Scot Arthur crowned WBO champion

[Clegg]

Scotland's Alex Arthur is the new WBO super-featherweight champion after Joan Guzman decided to give up his crown and step up to the lightweight division.

A title fight between the two was due to have taken place on 3 May but Guzman failed to secure a visa in time.

Arthur had been the interim champion after beating Koba Gogoladze in July.

"I'm delighted with the decision by the WBO to give me full world champion status but I felt that I won the title when I beat Gogoladze," said Arthur.

"I'm confident that I would have beaten Guzman had the fight been rescheduled but I believe that I am among the elite super-featherweights and want to prove myself as the best out there.

"I'm proud to be Edinburgh's first world champion for 30 years, and am looking forward to making the first defence of my title. My reign begins now."

Promoter Frank Warren said he expected Arthur to be a "long-term world champion".

He added: "I'm working hard at the moment to deliver a new date and challenger for Alex."

When Arthur was named the WBO's interim champion it effectively meant he was considered the organisation's number one contender.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7402980.stm

I was really looking forward to Arthur-Guzman, hopefully we'll see them both in the ring soon, just a shame it won't be against one another.

[the_godslayer]

yet another "vacant" belt for the Warren camp .... he must be laughing all the way to the bank. While Arthur is no doubt a decent fighter thats all he is ... decent ... lets see if Warren puts him in with live opponents now then ... anybody know who the new #1 contender is?

[majestiC]

1 Juan Manuel Marquez MEX
2 Roman Martinez (NABO) PR
3 Kevin Mitchell GB

Mitchell would seem the obvious one would be a good British dust up

[SLASHEh]

gwan yerself arthur!

hopefully he has some big fights in scotland in his reign as champ

[black.ink]

I hope a Arthur/Mitchell title fight comes off this year. Either that, or for JMM to send him a reality check and aim to unify the division which is his for the taking.

[Patty Tanager]

Disgusting how Mitchell is ranked 3rd, granted he'd probably paste Arthur, but he's fought no one, Warren has the WBO in his pocket.

[The Punchbag]

Arthur Vs Spud

Arthur's first defence of the title he won in the brutal fight he won agaist the evil carrot will be against the well respected Mega Spud. Mega Spud is said to be like no other potato. MS as it's friends have called it can run the 100 metres in 46 seconds (hey with no legs that's a bloomin miricle) and is believed to be serious about taking Arthur@s hard earned title off him in the near future.

[Roocky]

Nice one alex, hopefully he gets some big fights now

[T-97]

Wow, a new British champion....

Oh wait....Hes a paper champion. That sucks

Why didnt Terry Marsh finish Warren off?

[Alonzo Harris]

Wow, a new British champion....

Oh wait....Hes a paper champion. That sucks

Why didnt Terry Marsh finish Warren off?

Marsh is a legend... on topic he may be a paper champ but he is OUR paper champ woop lol.