Arthur: I'm in perfect shape to really Cook up a storm

WBO super-featherweight champion Alex Arthur admits he'll have to pull out all the stops to beat challenger Nicky Cook in Manchester tonight.

The Edinburgh star admitted Essex fighter Cook looked "as fit as a butcher's dog" at yesterday's weigh-in and is in no doubt over the task which lies ahead.

However, Arthur, who makes his first title defence at the MEN Arena, remains confident he will have too much power for his opponent.

He said: "Cook looked as fit as a butcher's dog on the scales yesterday – which tells me that I'm going to have pull out all the stops to beat him.

"But I've been boosted by former WBC lightweight champion, Jim Watt, who told me yesterday not to make the mistake of bulking up as some boxers do after weighing in as he thinks that I will be much sharper bang on 9st 4lbs – additional liquids will make me sluggish so I'm following Jim's advice.

"Watt also told me that not only should I beat Cook but that I have all the tools to become as successful a world champion as he was in the 1980s and that has really made me extra determined to beat Cook no matter what he throws at me.

"Financially, I'm at a crossroads here. Beat Cook and the big-money fights will roll as my manager Frank Warren has already said. Lose, and all the plans that my wife Debbie and I have will be in jeopardy – that's the brutal truth about tonight's fight.

While Arthur weighed in right on the championship limit, Cook tipped the scales at 9st 12ozs – around 4ozs lighter than the man he aims to dethrone tonight.

Hailing how his son is looking so good at the weight, in contrast to last December's fight with Steve Foster when Arthur had looked drawn, Alex Arthur senior said: "The Cook camp would have been secretly hoping that my son, Alex, would be struggling to make 9st 4lbs but he was not only absolutely spot-on but so confident that he would have no weight problems that he actually drank a bottle of water just before the weigh-in so they can rest assured that he won't be weight-weakened when the bell rings tonight."

Cook, though, is confident of pulling off a win, saying: "I've watched Arthur in action and there is nothing that he does that really worries me. He doesn't move his head much and is often a static target in the ring.

"Also, at just over 9st 3lbs, I've never been stronger than I will be going into this fight.

"What's more, I've been at this weight for over a week and came through 12 tough rounds with former British light-welterweight champion, Colin Lynes, at that weight without any trouble so, unlike when I fought last at featherweight, I will be absolutely strong and fired up and I will take Arthur's title."

Meanwhile, former world lightweight champion Watt, who was on hand to support fellow Scot Arthur, commented: "I think that it may be a hard fight for Alex but I think he will win because, like me, he is a conscientious guy who never cheats in training and this was proven by the confident way that he weighed in bang on the weight.

"It's a weight where Arthur is really strong so I think he will win.

"Still, both these guys will come looking for each other tonight and it will be one hell of a fight no matter how long it lasts."