Alex Arthur: Please release me, let me goooo.....
Posted: 27 Dec 2009, 07:38
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/boxi ... -21925468/
allegedly must release me if he can't set up fights I want, says Alex Arthur
Dec 27 2009 Jim Black, Sunday Mail
FORMER world champion Alex Arthur is set for crisis talks over his future early in the new year.
The one-time WBO super-featherweight king is keen to sit down with promoter allegedly in an effort to map out a fresh strategy at lightweight.
But the 31-year-old Edinburgh boxer has revealed he will ask Warren to release him from his contract if he feels the London fight chief is unable to deliver the bouts he is looking for.
Arthur, who last week turned down a WBO Inter-Continental title showdown with champion Kevin Mitchell on February 13 because it was too short notice, said: "I need to know in what direction my career is going.
"That's why I want to sit down with Frank as soon as possible to discuss the way ahead because I undercard fighter for the likes of Amir Khan and Mitchell.
"Being on the bill at six o'clock in the evening, as happened on the Khan show at Newcastle this month when I fought Nigel Wright, is not going to happen again.
"I'm a former world champion who has had more title bouts than most and think I deserve some respect.
"So to face or over the phone, and work out where I am going next.
"Ideally I would like to return to the ring at the end of February or the beginning of March.
"But if Frank says it will be hard for him to work me back into the title mix and is unable to get me meaningful fights I would like to think he will be good enough to release me and let me find another promoter.
"Frank has done a lot for me but I'm no longer managed by him. I'm self managed."
Arthur admits it was a mistake to move up to light-welterweight when he came into the ring at more than 11 stone and promptly suffered his third career defeat.
He is especially annoyed at himself because the loss to Wright resulted in him being removed from the WBO's lightweight ratings after he had been ranked No.3 in the division.
Motivated Arthur said: "I'm not going to start blaming other people for what happened because no one forced me to take the fight.
But being on at 6pm in a half empty arena fighting an eight round contest is no use to me.
"When you've been a world champion used to topping the bill or at least featuring as the main support it is impossible to become motivated in these circumstances.
"My performance definitely suffered because of the timing of the bout but that wasn't the only reason I lost.
"I also went into the ring far too heavy and looked quite fleshy, something I have never been in the past.
"That night I felt as if I was wearing one of the weighted vests we use at training and don't want to experience that again."
allegedly must release me if he can't set up fights I want, says Alex Arthur
Dec 27 2009 Jim Black, Sunday Mail
FORMER world champion Alex Arthur is set for crisis talks over his future early in the new year.
The one-time WBO super-featherweight king is keen to sit down with promoter allegedly in an effort to map out a fresh strategy at lightweight.
But the 31-year-old Edinburgh boxer has revealed he will ask Warren to release him from his contract if he feels the London fight chief is unable to deliver the bouts he is looking for.
Arthur, who last week turned down a WBO Inter-Continental title showdown with champion Kevin Mitchell on February 13 because it was too short notice, said: "I need to know in what direction my career is going.
"That's why I want to sit down with Frank as soon as possible to discuss the way ahead because I undercard fighter for the likes of Amir Khan and Mitchell.
"Being on the bill at six o'clock in the evening, as happened on the Khan show at Newcastle this month when I fought Nigel Wright, is not going to happen again.
"I'm a former world champion who has had more title bouts than most and think I deserve some respect.
"So to face or over the phone, and work out where I am going next.
"Ideally I would like to return to the ring at the end of February or the beginning of March.
"But if Frank says it will be hard for him to work me back into the title mix and is unable to get me meaningful fights I would like to think he will be good enough to release me and let me find another promoter.
"Frank has done a lot for me but I'm no longer managed by him. I'm self managed."
Arthur admits it was a mistake to move up to light-welterweight when he came into the ring at more than 11 stone and promptly suffered his third career defeat.
He is especially annoyed at himself because the loss to Wright resulted in him being removed from the WBO's lightweight ratings after he had been ranked No.3 in the division.
Motivated Arthur said: "I'm not going to start blaming other people for what happened because no one forced me to take the fight.
But being on at 6pm in a half empty arena fighting an eight round contest is no use to me.
"When you've been a world champion used to topping the bill or at least featuring as the main support it is impossible to become motivated in these circumstances.
"My performance definitely suffered because of the timing of the bout but that wasn't the only reason I lost.
"I also went into the ring far too heavy and looked quite fleshy, something I have never been in the past.
"That night I felt as if I was wearing one of the weighted vests we use at training and don't want to experience that again."
