By Terence Dooley
Alex Arthur looked a done deal when labouring to a points reverse to Nigel Wright last December. Alex, who was fighting up at 140lb for the first time, cut a fleshy, dejected figure as he trundled after Wright, with many, this writer included, sensing that the end was near for the always-entertaining Edinburgh stylist.
Arthur, though, believes that he has rediscovered his fighting fire; the 32-year-old former WBO super-featherweight title-holder has rejoined Frank Warren and is expected to make his return on the Roman Martinez-Ricky Burns undercard at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow on September the 4th.
Alex, 27-3 (20), won the interim 130lb title in 2007; he made his first defence of the full title against London’s Nicky Cook in September of 2008. Cook took a well-fought points decision, and the title, in a fight that seemed to knock all the stuffing from ‘Amazing’ Alex. However, the former British, European and Commonwealth boss believes that age is nothing but a number; he is confident that he can reverse his recent decline.
“The time is right for me to come back,” revealed Arthur when speaking to Stephen Halliday of The Scotsman. “People in the business are going to be surprised by what they see, they will get a real shock. The future of Scottish boxing still lies with me.
“I think my best times are ahead of me, not behind me. My family and God will tell me when to retire but, feeling the way I do right now, I can see me carrying on for another five years without any bother. Look, I'm young in comparison to a lot of the top fighters. Floyd Mayweather is 33, while the world lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez is 37 next month and is in outstanding form.”
He added: “Some of the stuff I've heard said about me, I'd be as well burying myself right now if I gave it any credibility. But you can't live like that. You need to be focused, have a goal and aim for it. Every arrow aimed at you from the outside has to be deflected off a shield you put up around your mind.”
As stated, Arthur is set to make his return on the undercard of Ricky Burns’ WBO super-featherweight title challenge. Ironically, Arthur defeated Burns on points in 2006 only to witness a reversal in their fortunes during the intervening years.
“My agent and chief negotiator, Alan Thomson, and I signed the new contract with Frank Warren and I am delighted because the new contract gives me a very generous deal which allows me to get back into ring action on 4 September on the Martinez v Burns world title clash,” confirmed Arthur when speaking to Brian Donald of the Edinburgh Evening News.
“And although there is no cast-iron guarantee that I will have my stated wish of a ten-round International title bout on the Kelvin Hall bill, to be honest, I'll be quite happy with an eight rounder non- title clash as I just can't wait to get back into the ring,” added Arthur.
Let’s hope that Arthur’s mental force shield is in full effect come fight night, although the boxer would be best served by working hard in the gym to ensure that his defence, which has let him down in the past, is his primary safeguard when he makes his return.
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