EDINBURGH'S Alex Arthur should need no additional incentive to place the mark of authenticity on his status as a world champion tonight, but promoter Frank Warren has provided him with one nonetheless.
If Arthur is successful in his first defence of the WBO super-featherweight title against Nicky Cook at the MEN Arena in Manchester, then his next outing is likely to be against one of boxing's modern day legends, Marco Antonio Barrera.
It is a
contest which Warren is already planning with 6 December and Glasgow the date and venue he has in mind. Barrera, the four-time world champion from Mexico, recently reversed his decision to retire from the ring and the 34-year-old has signed a four-year contract with American promoter Don King.
"We were trying to make the fight between Alex and Barrera for this show," said Warren. "Barrera couldn't be ready in time but he is a definite option for the winner of this fight. The other option is young Kevin Mitchell, who is undefeated and highly ranked by the WBO.
"But Barrera is a huge name and beating him would get Alex right up there in the world, recognised on both sides of the Atlantic. Whoever comes through between Alex and Nicky will be fighting again on 6 December against Barrera or Mitchell."
Disappointing attendances at several of Arthur's fights in Edinburgh mean the 30-year-old Scot is no longer assured of home-town advantage by Warren and, although it has not been ruled out as a potential venue for a fight against Barrera, the promoter justifiably believes it is a contest which would prove a huge attraction wherever it is staged.
"I think taking Barrera to Scotland would be massive," he added. "If necessary, we could take the fight to Glasgow. It becomes a national event, not a local one.
"The people of Edinburgh have come out on a few occasions for Alex. The fight against Michael Gomez five years ago was a sell-out, in fact we could have sold it out twice over. We know times are tough, though, and people sometimes find it difficult to find the money to come out to fights.
"But I would love to go back up to Scotland with Alex and put on a big show. There is nothing like it when the crowd are up for it. Alex has to make a statement on Saturday night, he has got to look good."
Arthur certainly looked good at yesterday's weigh-in which attracted a large crowd of curious shoppers at Manchester's Arndale Centre. Making the weight has been a problem for Arthur in the past, but he exuded health and confidence as he tipped the scales right on the 9st 4lbs limit.
It is a testament to the work he has done with Wayne McCullough, the latest in a long list of trainers used since he turned professional in 2000. It is a relationship Warren will urge him to maintain on a long-term basis.
"Alex is a very talented fighter and I hope he settles down now with Wayne as his trainer," said Warren. "I haven't been happy with his chopping and changing of trainers. Hopefully there will be some stability there now.
"The defeat he had against Gomez has stood him in good stead. He needed a wake-up call and he has learned from that. In this business, it only takes one punch for you to be out of contention.
"Alex has come through it and has beaten some good fighters along the way since then. He took himself apart that night against Gomez, he beat himself with his clowning around in the ring. There are no half measures in boxing. It's 100 per cent or you are in trouble."
Warren sensed complacency in Arthur when he had to climb off the canvas to defeat Stephen Foster Jr in his last fight back in December and has stressed that is something he cannot afford to indulge in against 28-year-old Cook, whose only defeat in 29 fights came in a WBO featherweight title challenge to Steven Luevano in July 2007.
"This is a tough fight for Alex," insisted Warren. "Nicky is going to be far more comfortable at super-featherweight. He fancies the job and thinks he can do better than Stephen Foster did.
"I don't think Alex went into the Foster fight in the right frame of mind. He thought it would be a complete walkover. Hopefully in this fight he will start using his head again as well as his heart. He is capable of boxing really well."
Arthur's nemesis Gomez was almost inevitably at yesterday's weigh-in, still badgering Warren for another contest with the Scot whom he described as "the weakest world champion out there at the moment."
The Mancunian's comments will be of little concern to Arthur. He is now on the verge of securing the type of lucrative fights and world class standing in the sport which he allowed Gomez to rip from his grasp back in 2003.
Cook is unquestionably a dangerous opponent whose odds of 100-30 to win tonight are proving attractive to many respected observers. Arthur, however, has seldom looked better prepared and should have the superior strength and skills to see off his English challenger and confirm himself beyond question as a genuine world champion.
FACT BOXALEX ARTHURHome Edinburgh
Age 30
Fights 27
Wins 26
Knockouts 19
Defeats 1
Height 5ft 9ins
Weight 9st 4lbs
NICKY COOKHome Dagenham
Age 28
Fights 29
Wins 28
Knockouts 16
Defeats 1
Height 5ft 6ins
Weight 9st 3lbs
The full article contains 950 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
