Arthur may be denied quick Cook rematch

ALEX ARTHUR is by no means certain to get a return match with his title conqueror, Nicky Cook, according to boxing chief Bernard Connolly.

Arthur, the dethroned WBO super-featherweight champion, has demanded that he meet Dagenham boxer Cook again in December after losing his title in Manchester earlier this month, but Connolly, the British Board of Boxing Control Scottish Area Council chairman, has dismissed the Edinburgh fighter's request.

Connolly said: "The Board of Control don't recognise mandatory return fights.

"In fact, the position is that Nicky Cook has the right to hold the title he won from Arthur for six months before making a mandatory defence and, even then, there are no guarantees that the Board would automatically recognise Alex Arthur as the automatic first mandatory challenger for Cook's title.

"Nicky Cook himself has the option as champion of refusing to grant Arthur a return as he is not obligated to do so. Therefore, Alex Arthur may well have to fight his way back to becoming Nicky Cook's No.1 challenger in the meantime while Cook chooses to defend against someone else."