Arthur ready for challenge of Gulyakevich

Neri · Post by **Neri** » 17 Apr 2006, 09:05

http://www.scotsman.com

EDINBURGH'S European super-featherweight champion, Alex Arthur, knows his new opponent - Belarussian Sergey Gulyakevich - will be on a revenge mission at Meadowbank on April 29.

Gulyakivich's manager Phillipe Fondu has seen Arthur defeat no fewer than nine Fondu- managed opponents, including four who only lasted a single round against the Capital boxer.

And Arthur has scorned claims made in British boxing trade newspaper Boxing News last month that Gulyakivich's most recent stunning KO win was a warning as to what might happen to him when he defends his European crown.

Arthur said: "One of my early Phillipe Fondu ring rivals, Nikolai Ermeev, whom I stopped in five rounds at Braehead [in June 2002] took Gulyakivich the distance so I'm not impressed by this talk of him being likely to stop me just becasue he stopped Bulgarian Tonto Tonchev.

" Fondu has made no secret of the fact that he just lives for the day when he can put somebody against me to beat me - but it isn't going to be this Belarussian guy. In fact, I stopped two of Phillipe's Belarussians back to-back in 1991 and I mean to do so again this time although I won't be taking this guy too cheaply.

"I am happier boxing Gulyakavich than Ghanain William Ashie, who I couldn't get any videos of and was a total unknown quantity - unlike the Belarussian, who I can watch on tape relatively easily."

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 17 Apr 2006, 13:02

I've been criticle of Arthur for not fighting Johansson, but fair play to him for taking this match ,Gulyakevich is a dangerous fighter who stands a good chance of winning.

I like this match up.