BoxRec

Alex Arthur wins in round 9 with a body shot.

Good fight.

decent fight

Arthur was less of an arse post fight than I imagined.

Gomez more of an arse than I imagined.

Slapsie

Couldnt help laughing when Gomez showed up it was like something from the WWE

Is Arthur scared of Gomez???????????????

"I fight for god"

I thought that Arthur looked pretty classy tonight. Settled himself into the fight for the first few rounds and then went up a gear. Too much variety and power for Docherty, who has to be commended for his performance. If Arthur can keep his feet on the ground and concentrate on what he's good at, fighting, then he's got the potential to collect a world title.

I hope he doesn't gve Gomez a rematch though. Considering Gomez was shying away from a rematch when Arthur was chasing one, now the boot is on the other foot and, with Gomez coming off a crushing defeat, he's desperate for an Arthur match. What Alex said was true, Gomez brings nothing to the table, a rematch would be a backward step for him when a European title match is a possibility. I would favour Arthur in a rematch anyway, by the looks of things he's more than learnt his lesson from the first fight and, I reckon, would take Gomez slowly apart much like he did with Docherty tonigh.

Don't know what version of Arthur to take away from the fight - the one before the left uppercut that broke Docherty's nose, or the one after. Regardless, a Michael Gomez fight at lightweight needs to happen.

I am not fan of AA, but, since he got KO'd by Gomez, he has moved forward and Gomez backwards.

AA is back on an upward curve and Gomez is going nowhere.

That being said, Gomez has moved up and AA needs to given the weigh in, so I can see them makiing the fight and I can see it being close again as AA is still open to the same punches on last night's viewing and, while he looks very stylish going forward, he still looks uncomfortable when someone has him on the back foot. Doherty, commendable though he was, just wasn't the person to do it

Slapsie

Good fight, although shouldn't be compared to Watt-Buchanan. Fair do's to Arthur, he looked good and is now in a good position.

I hope Craig can bounce back after this. I heard he fell off the wagon fight a bit after the sinitsin fight, hope it doesn't happen again.

Gomez is a desperate little shite. After losing to him, Arthur has now surpassed gomez again. If arthur gives him a rematch I hope he slaughters him.

Little tad disappointed by the undercard. Have to admit I can't think of anyone else but McDermott could really of staged his comeback fight in his front porch whilst the adverts are on during the Simpsons. Burns and Young, well fair enough, although I hoped for a bit more from Burns. I know he's only 21 or 22 but I was hoping after his results against Bain and Earle he could go for the jugular a bit and really push him up the rankings.

Enjoyed the fight, good win for AA but for me, he is still getting caught too easy!

I don't think he will win one of the major three belts....................ever.

I thought Arthur was good, very much liked how he keeps the right hand very high almost Cotto like, shame its so slow when he does let it go though.
Docherty put on a brave showing but I think he had given up 2rnds earlier.

Barry McGuigan was being kind I thought saying Young should get in better shape.
For a kid his age in this sport he didn`t look as if he was that committed, he is carrying a stone atleast around the midrift, a kid his age should be as lithe as a racing snake in this game.

Kevin Mitchell looked decent enough, very decent build for his age and seemed to punch solidly enough, but doesn`t he make enough noise when he does punch though.
I just worry kids around his age have watched too many Naz fights when they were younger and keeps their hands too low, as well as the obvious danger of the right hands over the top, they are also susceptible of cuts due to heads clashing, I much prefer the high Cotto style held hands.

And is Gomez for real? I like him but sometimes just don`t know if he`s serious or just playing a game.
And why did they bother with interviews, couldn`t understand much any of them said, especially not Mitchell.

They keep talking Kevin Mitchell up as a puncher. I know a puncher when I see one and Kevin Mitchell is not one. You just know by way they land and opponents reactions. That guy was way smaller last night and he only gave him a bloody nose. He's no puncher.

i dont like the way mitchell acts a hard man when he is fighting nobody dangerous.

Arthur was class. He kept his cool and a nice high guard when being pressured in the early rounds and when he had Docherty hurt didnt let up. i know he says he isnt interested that much in gomez but i would still like to see it

Arthur looked good last night, it's always good to see a fighter try and learn by his mistakes and improve as a Boxer. Docherty also should be applauded and I hope he is not too down about the lose, as I feel he still has plenty to give to the game.

Having said all that, I still can't see Arthur winning a major World title.

tonyevs wrote:Barry McGuigan was being kind I thought saying Young should get in better shape.
For a kid his age in this sport he didn`t look as if he was that committed, he is carrying a stone atleast around the midrift, a kid his age should be as lithe as a racing snake in this game.

I agree with this Tony. The thing that is worrying is that I don't remember Young ever looking as flabby as he did last night. He used to look very lithe and trimmed about a year/year and a half back. I couldn't help but think when I first saw him last night that he's become settled into the standard of his opponents, and doesn't feel the same motivation to get up for them. This is very dangerous for a prospect.

Kevin Mitchell may fall into the same trap. I must admit though, I have only ever been impressed twice by Mitchell in his career so far. First, when he blatantly lost at his own game in the first round versus Henry Janes (appalling scoring), then started to jab. The only time I've ever seen any semblance of 'boxing maturity' from him. The second time I've been a little impressed was last night. Not forgetting the typical bias in his favour in terms of strength, height, reach, age, etc. He showed a good jab at certain times.

I also agree with LeftHook: Mitchell ain't the puncher they're hyping him as. I have heard him compared to a young Nigel Benn. Please...
When Mitchell hits the wall - be it at European or even British level - I'm pretty certain it will be by KO. He's in for a rude awakening enough by the time he fights an opponent who stands up to him, but I also think his frame - the long neck, pointed chin, etc. - is primed for a KO puncher.

tonyevs wrote:I just worry kids around his age have watched too many Naz fights when they were younger and keeps their hands too low, as well as the obvious danger of the right hands over the top, they are also susceptible of cuts due to heads clashing, I much prefer the high Cotto style held hands.

This is a crucial point. How many amatuers or even young pros nowadays have been insipred by those videos Naz brought out in the late 90's? Too many, I fear. Nothing trumps a well-schooled, traditional, hands-tight defence, in my opinion. I remember people telling me at the time how easy the orthodox Barrera would be for Naz. Most amusing to see them scratch their heads on the Sunday morning.

Arthur was good in the early rounds in how he kept his hands up, but his complete failure to take the initative away from Docherty was worrying. He was unable to take hold, never mind control the pace of the fight. His jab over the first few rounds was woeful. Where was the snappy jab that regained the fight in the second round versus Gomez? It only started to appear in the middle to later rounds, when Docherty was already a beaten fighter. The worrying thing about this is that it showed signs that Arthur lacks the air of devil needed to win at the top level.

Mike Anchondo got devastated last night by a tough warrior in Jorge Barrios. There were clear signs that Anchondo was a glamour boy TV fighter. I remember when Gavin Rees pulled out of a fight with him and people on this board (including myself) scorned it as an opportunity lost. I remember Bennie said something along the lines that these types of fighter are overated, and all it takes sometimes is a fighter with effective aggression and some menace to do them. Barrios, a typical tough Argie, proved that last night.

Arthur was done in by Gomez, looked shaky when Ruiz went on the attack, and failed to take the play away from Docherty - who wasn't even that aggressive. I would give him no chance against the likes of Barrios - a realistic fight if Arthur reaches that level (given it's the WBO).

This is why I think rematch with Gomez at lightweight is essential. Gomez would have no problem getting up for it (this is an opponent that speaks English and he can feed off), and would most likely fight the same as he did in the first fight. With a win Arthur would answer questions like: 'what's his power like at lightweight', 'how does he cope with an effectively aggressive fighter', 'how does he cope mentally in a rematch from a shattering defeat'. He would be able to answer all these questions in one fell swoop. He is heading for a short championship career with this attitude of 'titles, titles, titles', if he proves himself a better fighter to himself, the titles will come.

Gary young came into the worst shape hes ever been in for a fight in a long time, very flabby around the sides no six pack showing, gary is a light-welter and needs motovation and challanges, didnt look as sharp as always either, I will give him the benefit of the doubt and say that this is a one off, i want a in better shape and better performance next time from gary.

I say another boxer in great conditon john mcdermott won in a first round stoppage, Anyway as for Arthur boxed well and he does have a punch really does, it was like craigs punches werent having much affect but i think the breaking of the nose turned the fight, as for gomez?? well what do use think? he goes on to beat sinistine for european and then defends all three against gomez what a british scrap would that be>??

I think arthur can beat sinistin and also gomez in a re-match move on to bigger things from there but that should be his next to fights, sinistin first them gomez, gomez can get a fight or two in between a few ko's so he isnt going into arthur fight of a loss.

I suppose it would be too quick a turnaround to get Arthur-Sinitsin on the Harrison or Hatton bill? Purse bid deadlines fairly soon tho isn't it? Next week sometime?