Boxing: Blood test sweat for Arthur

ALEX ARTHUR'S ring coach Terry McCormack has admitted that both he and the former WBO super-featherweight boxing champion are sweating on the results of blood tests that the lightweight division contender underwent last week.

"Alex complained last week about feeling listless and under par during training recently so he cut his prep for his next fight at Belfast on 9 October, consulted medics and had the blood tests, the results of which we hope will be positive for me when they are revealed (this week]," said McCormack.

"Obviously, a great deal depends on the outcome of these tests as Alex desperately wants to fight both in Belfast on 9 October and again in December when he'll fight a bout which will determine if he fights for a world lightweight title in 2010."

"Arthur has been resting as there is no point in him training until he feels 100 per cent again," McCormack explained, "although the thumbs-up from the medics to resume gym work this week will be the very best tonic that he could possibly get.''