Alex Arthur dumped by trainer

[LeedsLad]

He really ought to consider packing it in.

In his head he's world class, but he was clearly beaten by European class Nicky Cook in supposedly a gimme first defence of a title that was given to him.... and more recently he was clearly outpointed by Nigel Wright, a man who's lost several times when trying to win domestic titles.

If he was to carry on and win the British title that would be a very good achievement for him - I'd favour most of our top lightweights to get the job done, some by stoppage.

I agree the likes of Murray and Mitchell and probably Rees would beat this version of Arthur. Murray would beat him with ease i think but who knows? He's defo nearing the end o his career.

Agreed.

Realistically if he's going to fight those kinds of opponents he needs a couple of tune-ups first.

I worry for him if he goes straight in with Murray..... could be like a train wreck if truth be told. Five years after he's retired he'll look back with some regrets, changing trainer every five minutes and taking the Gomez fight which he clearly wasn't ready for.

[Emmseegee]

He should maybe consider throwing His name in the hat for a future prizefighter!
They would bite his hand off to add his name onto the bill and if he won it he could set himself up nicely for a few fights afterwards.

[DavidPayne]

Gavin Rees would fkk him up at any weight he chooses.

[Trojans44]

Gavin Rees would fkk him up at any weight he chooses.

Which sad because Arthur is miles more talented. Such a waste, Arthur was extremely talented.

[hurlock]

Gavin Rees would fkk him up at any weight he chooses.

i like this new approach by you mr payne D

[mkirkhope]

I was gonnae start a new thread about Arthur but thought I'd tack it on to this one.

Was watching the Arthur Gomez fight again last night - it's my favourite in my collection due to both the atmosphere and the action. I was a big Arthur fan and attended this fight.

Even though I've seen the fight loads of times, I still can't work out what went so badly wrong and why he was never able to resurrect his career properly.

There were certainly lots of contributing factors: getting 'trained' by Freddie Roach by phone, getting too arrogant (talking about his apartment, car etc), getting drawn into a personal feud with Gomez that he didn't need to, and perhaps not taking Gomez seriously enough (he looks like he's way too relaxed before the fight starts and not focussed).

However, I think that normally when someone of that ability gets beaten they find a way to still make more of a real success of their career and get things fully back on track. In my opinion, he had exceptional talent and if well-coached and managed should have got to genuine world class. I know people on here disagree with that but I've rarely seen that amount of natural talent in a british fighter for ages.

So what happened? Was it that he got beaten up so badly in that fight he was never able to get back to the sharpness he had before it? (an ageing fight), or after getting a beating like that he knew he no longer fancied getting into really tough fights again? Even when presented with amazing opportunities since he's never looked interested (as people have commented above).

Darke and McCrory continuously mention in the fight that "he has an absolutely non-existent defense". I'm not sure that's true. It certainly looked like it in that fight but in other fights he looked pretty good at avoiding punches and blocking hooks. I think he was just so dazed from the first round on that he wasn't able to defend himself as well as he should have.

Anyway, would love to know everyone's thoughts.

[stujones]

I think more closer to the truth is that Arthur never fought anyone of Gomez' stature before. Gomez was by far the toughest fight for him.... and to say Arthur never really recovered from that loss when he went on to beat better opponents is a bit much.

Arthur adapted, cause he needed to.

[Lenny]

Arthur had his career peak after this fight in my opinion. I don't think it did anything like ruin him - although I don't think he made enough adjustments to his style afterwards, he did improve.

I think the fall (around the Foster Jnr fight) was due to boiling down to super feather for too long. He just seemed to lose all his energy after that and didn't look half the fighter he was before.

I don't think he was every capable of winning a proper title, but at his best he was very good

[mkirkhope]

I don't think he was ever the 'same' after the Gomez fight - didn't seem as mentally or physically sharp to me.

I agree with the comments that he went on to beat better opponents than Gomez, and his career went to a higher level than British vs Gomez, but I feel that after the gomez fight something went missing that was never recovered (confidence?) and that's why he never (IMO) made the most of his exceptional talent.

[stujones]

A lot of people don't realise just how good Michael Gomez could've been. In the same vein, and despite all the stories that provide a limited insight, a lot people are not aware of just how badly he lived his life. Had Gomez trained properly and lived like a monk, he may well have dominated europe at super featherweight and been a contender for genuine world honours. He was that special (talent wise). Whilst Mike was already pretty much ruined when he fought Alex Arthur, he had endured a good camp and was well focussed.

Do you think he could have made Featherweight around his prime years? I agree certainly could have DOMINATED Europe - he already did pretty well beating future European champions Arthur and Kirakosvyan, and some others well up in the EBU rankings at certain points (Docherty).

Not sure he would have ever beaten the likes of Real Mexicans in or close to their prime at that stage, but yeah - some world honours might have been within his grasp.

Sorry, Mirkirkhope - I'll disagree - I think its all about levels - I think Arthur was always a EBU level fight - before and after Gomez. Yeah, he looked "Amazing" beating lesser fighters on the way up - but the guy was they were lesser fighters. James Hare looked the Dogs Bollocks against lesser fighters.

[Poncey]

Sorry if this is based on personal issues for AA but please insert my usual joke about trainers and JD Sports at your leisure.

Original and best

[palooka]

Gavin Rees would fkk him up at any weight he chooses.

Which sad because Arthur is miles more talented. Such a waste, Arthur was extremely talented.

I agree that Alex had some attributes and was a talented fella; there are other attributes and talents though that are very good to have in Boxing; not so noticable, maybe, that Arthur didn't have; and Rees has in spades.

[tear up]

known alex from international duties european s graet guy hope his family trouble s pass and everythink ok but just think his long old journey in winning more or less everythink in the am and pro catchin up to him hunger and motivation and must of all family life when the nigel right fight got penciled in i text nigel said you can win this mate as in think all the hard years finaly catch up to some one who has dieted and had some hard fight gomez for on but hope he and his family r ok

[whiskey]

I never rated him and the sh*t he spouted after losing to Nicky Cook told me everything about the guy.

In the ring during the interview, he was saying how Nicky was better on the night and beat him, and how they are all going out for a meal with their wives in the next few weeks.

Then 48 hours later, said the "english" judges were corrupt, that there was no way Nicky Cook beat him after watching it back. WTF !

[tear up]

I never rated him and the sh*t he spouted after losing to Nicky Cook told me everything about the guy.

In the ring during the interview, he was saying how Nicky was better on the night and beat him, and how they are all going out for a meal with their wives in the next few weeks.

Then 48 hours later, said the "english" judges were corrupt, that there was no way Nicky Cook beat him after watching it back. WTF !

remember that was said cook just had a good game plan and truth didnt like the way he went on with you gomez thats not the way boxers go on he thought it was a walk in the park peach of left hooks mind

[Coco]

I think it is very important for the trainer to be the boss in the gym, if the fighter can't respect that he is in trouble.
One thing is for sure AA never lacked talent.
He can compete with Macklin and Sports Direct for ....... lol

[palooka]

I think it is very important for the trainer to be the boss in the gym, if the fighter can't respect that he is in trouble.
One thing is for sure AA never lacked talent.
He can compete with Macklin and Sports Direct for ....... lol

That is a very good point coco ; it is one that is assumed and overlooked. Alex has been a 'star' for such a long long time (his picture was in the Boxing News as one to watch when he was around 12 years old). It must be difficult for a trainer to assert their authority, to set rules etc when the boxer is a 'big shot'; wealthy, has other interests, ex world title holder and so on.

[JC]

Shame Arthur vs Harrison never came off at SFW really, would've been a good'un. Harrison was huge at the weight so I reckon he's have been OK moving up

[Tomasino]

The funniest thing Ive seen from Arthur was when Wayne McCulloch was in the corner and Alex begged him "talk me up boss, talk me up!" when he was struggling. It was sad and funny in equal measure.

Arthur never had a big following in Scotland due to his big mouth.

[whiskey]

The funniest thing Ive seen from Arthur was when Wayne McCulloch was in the corner and Alex begged him "talk me up boss, talk me up!" when he was struggling. It was sad and funny in equal measure.

[ThereByTheGrace]

Arthur was a good fighter, and he knew this, which led to bad things in a sport like boxing.

One of the most talented Scotland has ever had, but it went to his head, and who can blame him? He was a prodigy who won the Commowealth at a young age, bombed out nearly everyone for 2 years as pro - but when he had to fight guys who had more heart than himself, he was found wanting and got more frustrated with himself.

[cbellshaw]

Aurthur v Gomez was the best domestic fight ive seen live. Hopefully Alex gets back active as there are some good fights out there. Foster Jnr looked tight at weight when he lost his European title and also gave Alex a hard fight up here. Could be a cracking make or break fight for them both.