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Alex Arthur delighted after being named world champion



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Published Date: 15 May 2008
By BILL LOTHIAN
CAPITAL boxing ace Alex Arthur today spoke of his pride at becoming Edinburgh's first world champion for 30 years.
Arthur is the new WBO super-featherweight champion after defending champion Joan Guzman decided to relinquish his title rather than travel to Edinburgh to fight Arthur.

Guzman will move up in weight, leaving Arthur, who was already WBO interim cha
mpion, to inherit his crown.

Arthur said: "I'm delighted with the decision by the WBO to give me full world champion status but I felt that I won the title when I beat Koba Gogoladze last July.

"I'm confident I would have beaten Guzman had the fight been rescheduled but I believe that I'm among the elite super-featherweights and want to prove myself as the best out there.

"But I'm proud to be Edinburgh's first world champion for 30 years, and am looking forward to making the first defence of my title."

Arthur had been scheduled to fight Guzman on May 3 at Meadowbank but the bout was postponed when Guzman failed to secure a visa in time. A new date had been anticipated before Guzman's decision to let the title go.

Promoter Frank Warren revealed the search is under way to find a replacement opponent for what will now be 29-year-old Arthur's first defence this summer.

The Sports Network chief said: "Britain has lost a few of its world champions over the last few months but we have got one back with Alex now declared as world champion.

"I believe he will be a long-term world champion.

"I'm working hard at the moment to deliver a new date and challenger for Alex."

On Guzman's website, his manager Jose Nunez claimed the Dominican had been annoyed by the postponement of the fight. Nunez said he would explain the reasons for Guzman's decision and state his future plans later.



The full article contains 318 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 15 May 2008 4:28 PM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Alex Arthur
 
1

,

15/05/2008 14:12:08
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
2

GGTTH#1,

15/05/2008 15:21:02
think this is ridiculous to be honest. the next fight should be between the two top contenders and then the winner should be declared the world champion. How can you be classed as a world champion if you havent even fought for it!! Why should he go into the next fight as defender?
3

Robster,

Here, there, everywhere. 15/05/2008 15:38:03
#2 He already did that with Gogoladze for the interim title, the interim title was brought about when a champion is either out injured or not decided on defending the title, the WBO use this as a type of eliminator to kind of whittle down to who will be the Number 1 contender for the full title. The only problem I have with that is interim title holders get to defend the interim title, I believe if you are interim champion then you should stay Number 1 contender until you meet the full champion or as in this case the full champion vacates. Defending interim titles is only another way promoters can bill a show as a "world title" event to con the paying public they are actually witnessing a "world title" bout.

Good luck to Alex, I may not be his biggest fan but he won the "eliminator" so therefore deserves to be installed as full champ.
4

Raoul Duke,

15/05/2008 17:04:15
Congratulations Alex, best of luck for your first defence.
5

PaulB,

Edinburgh 15/05/2008 17:55:11
Well done Alex! you deserve it!
6

roberto,

15/05/2008 18:05:10
victory by default

that's the scottish way
7

Always Right,

15/05/2008 22:58:21
Acky fair doo's, but what did GOMEZ DO TO YOU?
8

THE BPRENTICE,

15/05/2008 23:18:51
Alex deserves it - no doubt!!
9

Furious,

Edinburgh 16/05/2008 11:43:05
Alex had no intention of fighting him anyway.
10

Robster,

Here, there, everywhere. 16/05/2008 12:22:12
You want to mix with the best Alex? Give the public a fight to remember and a huge test of your ability, make your first defence against Humberto Soto, that would be an absolute cracker.
11

Jingling Geordie,

26/05/2008 17:52:04
Alex Arthur was "bequest" this title, in true AAA style he will already be foragaging through the lower echelons of the division in search of a soft challenger to fight at, yes, you've guessed, Meadowbank.
Is Arthur the only champ to have become so without fighting anyone in the top 10?
Soto got thrashed by Guzman in his last fight.
Perhaps one day Arthur will fight someone we have heard of, he might even get a passport, then pigs might fly.
12

scotty 2,

edinburgh 29/05/2008 22:40:31
this fight was never taking place,wonder how the refunds went,world champ on a bye,and hes happy with that.

 

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