ALEX Arthur, the former WBO super-featherweight champion from Edinburgh, believes he is just two fights away from earning the chance to regain his status as a world champion.
Arthur, 31, has been told he will have second-top billing against an as-yet- unnamed opponent on the undercard of local heavyweight Martin Rogan's Commonwealth title rematch with Sam Sexton in Belfast on 9 October.
Arthur also revealed that he has
been given as assurance by his promoter, Frank Warren, that he will be installed as mandatory challenger for the WBO lightweight title if he wins his next two bouts after signing an extended deal with Sports Network.
Arthur's debut at lightweight in June lasted less than 94 seconds when he twice had French-Algerian Mohamed Benbiou down at Bellahouston Leisure Centre in Glasgow after making the step-up from super-feather following a constant struggle to make the weight.
Ideally, Arthur would have preferred to have boxed a few more rounds to rid himself of any ring rustiness after a nine-month lay off following his surprising world championship loss to Nicky Cook in Manchester.
But Arthur, who has been told he will fight again in December, insists that he will not hang around in his next fight either if he is again presented with the opportunity of a quick kill.
He said: "I don't get paid overtime and after blowing Benbiou out of the water I would love to send out another strong message that I am back and I mean business.
"Some people may have been sceptical last time and had the impression that Benbiou was a bit of a mug, given that the fight ended in the first round, but he had been in against some quality boxers and lasted the distance so I beat a worthy opponent."
• China's super-heavyweight Olympic silver medallist Zhang Zhilei is working with Hall of Fame trainer Lou Duva as part of his preparations for the 2012 Games in London.
The 26-year-old amateur, a bronze medallist at the 2007 world championships, is already in the US working with Duva. Promoters D & D Global, run by Duva's son Dino and Richard Davimos, said the work with Zhang was just the start of a deal which will see more of China's top prospects being trained in the United States.
