By Mark Vester

Alex Arthur (26-1, 19KOs) put on a gutsy performance to win a unanimous decision over Stephen Foster (23-2-1, 16KOs) at the Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland. Foster retains the WBO interim super featherweight title, and wants to force a fight with full champion, Joan Guzman, in the early part of 2008.

The fight began at a very high pace, Foster setting the tempo for a war. Foster appeared to have a slight edge in the early rounds, while Arthur was adjusting to his gutsy foe. Foster lost a point in the sixth round for a headbutt.

In the ninth, Arthur threw a bodyshot that would made Ricky Hatton proud, as Foster took a knee, prompting the ref to administer a count and giving himself some precious seconds to recover.

In the eleventh, Foster landed what many thought was a miracle punch, a hard right that put Arthur down and almost out. Foster went for the kill after the Arthur made it to his feet, but the champion was able to last until the final bell. In the twelfth, both of them tried to close the show by trading punches, as the crowd was cheering the hometown favorite, Arthur, to give as good as he got, and he did - until the final bell rang to end the fight. 

All three judges saw the fight in favor of Arthur 114-111, 114-111 and 113-112. The win moves Arthur one step closer to a showdown with Guzman. 

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