A BEEFED-UP Alex Arthur believes he can be a world champion again after finally deciding to step up a weight.
The Scot lost his WBO super-featherweight belt to Nicky Cook in June last year after struggling to make the weight again. But he feels he has gained new power and fitness following his decision to move to lightweight. The 30-year-old returns to the
ring on 19 June following a one-year absence when he takes on veteran Algerian Mohamed Benbiou at Glasgow's Bellahouston Leisure Centre.
The limit will be 9st 12lbs – even heavier than lightweight – and Arthur is relieved he can train without neglecting food.
The Edinburgh fighter admits he should have stepped up earlier, but he struggled to victories over Koba Gogoladze and Steve Foster Jnr in order to claim the interim WBO title.
The narrow points defeat to Cook prompted promoter Frank Warren to immediately urge the fighter to step up a weight, and while Arthur initially resisted those pleas, he has now taken the advice on board that his future lies outwith the super featherweight division.
"Making the weight was unbearable," admitted Arthur.
"I think all the signs were there after the Steve Foster fight. I probably should have given them the belt back. But hindsight is a great thing, it's difficult to turn down big fights.
"It's so much better now – just the fact I can eat food like rice and cereals rather than emaciating myself means I can train much harder. I can push myself to a higher level, I'm maybe even at my peak condition."
The former British, Commonwealth and European champion's comeback has been delayed by injury and illness over the past year but he maintains he has the hunger to become world champion again.
"I feel like before when I won the British title from Steve Conway," said Arthur.
"I absolutely believe I can be world champion again. I don't do this because I like getting punched in the face. I don't have a route marked out but Frank Warren is the best in the business and he will do what he does to get me my chance."
Arthur, whose defeat by Cook was only his second in 28 fights, added: "Training has been brilliant. I have had some brilliant sparring with the likes of Paul Appleby.
"I'm back with Terry McCormack, who is my original trainer and it couldn't have been better."
• Amir Khan has urged Ricky Hatton to fight on after his crushing defeat at the hands of Manny Pacquiao last month.
Khan – who fights for Hatton's old WBA title against Andreas Kotelnik on 27 June at London's O2 Arena, said: "Manny had a very, very good night, so I think that Ricky can come back and win a world title. He's a credit to the sport and a credit to Britain."
The full article contains 488 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
