BoxRec

If Saturday's Guzman-Soto winner wants to keep his belt, he has to defend against WBO interim super feather titlist Alex Arthur. I'm surprised not to see a thread on Arthur, because it will be probably another Brit going into a major fight.

IMO Guzman and Soto are outstanding fighters. I don't know if they'd come over to the UK though. GBP I think have a piece of Guzman and they're not keen on their fighters going abroad (Andrade and Ikeke got hammered away from home; they didn't want to send JM Marquez to the Uk to fight Harrison that time). And Soto being with Top Rank, these are big outfits.

Would Warren be able to get the winner to come over here? I'm pretty sure Soto would keep the title - while Guzman's had 3 alphabet belts, Soto has won 3 ELIMS but never got a title shot! - the Mexican would surely defend vs the #1. But I reckon Guzman would go up, vacate and leave Arthur to take on the #2 contender.

Whatr are ppl's opinions of this fight? What are Arthur's chances of fighting the winner, away or at home?

I'd say his chances were slim. Though neither Guzman or Soto are big earners, I suspect. So £100k to come to the UK may seem like decent money to them.

Guzman would batter Arthur. If he can make weight sensibly.

Guzman can do everything. Box, bang, move.

Warren has said he doesn't put his fighters in fights he doesn't not think he can/will win

Surely this falls into that category? As much as i'd love to see Arthur fight them (and actually win a world title before he goes around proclaiming himself to be a champion) I can't see it happening. I'm sure Frank will be happy at Arthur defending the intrim belt against some of the other fighters in the SN stable and after some of Alex's comments regarding the Foster Jnr fight, it doesn't sound like he minds it either.

I aint been convinced about Guzman as a Super Featherweight - gets through Soto I'll be convinced. I am already convinced about Soto.

So unfortunately I can only predict PAIN for Athur if/when he faces the winner.

Guzman taking rounds off is the only thing I can see against him at the moment, and that could spell trouble against Soto.

Against Arthur, i'm not sure it'll matter too much, Arthur could come strong later in the fight but i'd be surprised if he could survive an eaarly onslaught ala against Barrios. I think they both beat him with something to spare.

Lenny wrote:Guzman taking rounds off is the only thing I can see against him at the moment, and that could spell trouble against Soto.

As you said, Arthur does come on strong towards the end of a fight and I've been dissapointed in Guzman's power. He looked electric early on vs a weight drained Barrios - but then faded (well faded isn't the right word, but elected to put less effort in) towards the end pretty badly. Done this a few times at Super Feather. He reminds me of Junior Witter with this flaw.

It will be a huge ask, but Guzman doesn't seem to have the dynamite he once had and if Arthur can suck it up - then maybe after 5,6 round he can get his own punches up.

I think Soto will test Guzman's stamina, if Guzman survives the test - the yep - he'll destroy Athur.

Arthur won't fight the winner. There's a reason he fights with a yellow streak on his shorts. He was mouthing last year about wanting a big fight but turned down an IBF eliminator I think it was with Robbie Peden.

fatton wrote:Arthur won't fight the winner. There's a reason he fights with a yellow streak on his shorts. He was mouthing last year about wanting a big fight but turned down an IBF eliminator I think it was with Robbie Peden.

Why would he turn down a fight with Robbie Peden?

stujones wrote:I aint been convinced about Guzman as a Super Featherweight - gets through Soto I'll be convinced. I am already convinced about Soto.

So unfortunately I can only predict PAIN for Athur if/when he faces the winner.

100% agree with that.

But I think with Arthur's size at the weight and Guzman's questionable stamina at 130 tht AAA would have a decent chance, especially at home.

Would be interesting if Frank sent him to Mexico or Atlantic City or Vegas to fight Soto!

Guzman and Soto would both slaughter Arthur.

Horse wrote:

fatton wrote:Arthur won't fight the winner. There's a reason he fights with a yellow streak on his shorts. He was mouthing last year about wanting a big fight but turned down an IBF eliminator I think it was with Robbie Peden.

Why would he turn down a fight with Robbie Peden?

Don't know, would like to hear Arthurs answer. Strangley enough though with all I read from him about him wanting to take on the big boys in front of 50,000 like Calzaghe he's never once mentioned why he turned down a fight with Peden even though he would have had home advantage. Maybe it was as simple as he just didn't fancy it?

Arthur has been quoted on the bbc website, wanting to clear the division up, getting hold of all the belts, even the WBO proper!!

Then he goes on to talk about his fight with stephen foster jr....

Arthur has been well matched since the Gomez loss, first time he steps up to true world level, he will be sent packing.

fatton wrote:

Horse wrote:

fatton wrote:Arthur won't fight the winner. There's a reason he fights with a yellow streak on his shorts. He was mouthing last year about wanting a big fight but turned down an IBF eliminator I think it was with Robbie Peden.

Why would he turn down a fight with Robbie Peden?

Don't know, would like to hear Arthurs answer. Strangley enough though with all I read from him about him wanting to take on the big boys in front of 50,000 like Calzaghe he's never once mentioned why he turned down a fight with Peden even though he would have had home advantage. Maybe it was as simple as he just didn't fancy it?

he wanteda fight with St Clair/Klassen who had the IBF. Klassen had no interest & I'm not sure Alex was rated highly by the IBF. St Clair was pissed that Scott harrison pulled out on him, so it all seemed a non starter.

Autobarn wrote:

fatton wrote:

Horse wrote: Why would he turn down a fight with Robbie Peden?

Don't know, would like to hear Arthurs answer. Strangley enough though with all I read from him about him wanting to take on the big boys in front of 50,000 like Calzaghe he's never once mentioned why he turned down a fight with Peden even though he would have had home advantage. Maybe it was as simple as he just didn't fancy it?

he wanteda fight with St Clair/Klassen who had the IBF. Klassen had no interest & I'm not sure Alex was rated highly by the IBF. St Clair was pissed that Scott harrison pulled out on him, so it all seemed a non starter.

I'm not 100% on the sanctioning bodies side of things but I did hear from a good source that Sports Network agreed terms for an Arthur V Peden fight only for Alex to turn it down.

Sounds a bit weird that Fatton, not saying your wrong - Arthur did "unexpectedly" and quite dramatic fall from a very lofty position with the IBF.

Although, fighting a shot to shit Peden and then going on to fight say Klassen for the IBF title proper sounds like and EASIER route than fighting Gogoladze for the Interim WBO belt.

stujones wrote:Sounds a bit weird that Fatton, not saying your wrong - Arthur did "unexpectedly" and quite dramatic fall from a very lofty position with the IBF.

Although, fighting a shot to shit Peden and then going on to fight say Klassen for the IBF title proper sounds like and EASIER route than fighting Gogoladze for the Interim WBO belt.

This was a good bit before Arthur fought for the WBO title though, not exactly sure when but think it was around summer of last year and he turned down Peden in favour of another European title defence.

Maybe he felt the money wasn't good enough and it wouldn't surprise me if that's why Ken Buchanan came out with his "Arthurs needs to get a move on" statement which cuased the rift between them.

Arthur says this week he wants to emulate Calzaghe and unify the IBF, WBA and WBC titles although i didn't even think he was WBO full champion yet!? He's a possible good "world" level fighter for these times and can hold a version of one of the alphabelts but i wouldn't fancy his chances with either Guzman or Soto to be honest, which is a fantastic matchup by the way.

he must be hoping for a Guzman win. Guzman's heart is at lightweight already where he was due to face Katsidis. Get a vacant WBO belt, make loads of defenses, moan about his peers not wanting to come over to Scotland, pretend your the best. Funny thing is, Arthur won't get a unification in 10 years' time because he'd be 40 by then!

I think Arthur is a good Euro level. Why pretend a can of salmon in brine is a piece of luxury smoked salmon?

Autobarn wrote:he must be hoping for a Guzman win. Guzman's heart is at lightweight already where he was due to face Katsidis. Get a vacant WBO belt, make loads of defenses, moan about his peers not wanting to come over to Scotland, pretend your the best. Funny thing is, Arthur won't get a unification in 10 years' time because he'd be 40 by then!

I think Arthur is a good Euro level. Why pretend a can of salmon in brine is a piece of luxury smoked salmon?

Well said. If he can get hold of the full WBO belt and avoid the mandatories, he could, with careful fight selection, have a decent run. He won't be able to "do a Calzaghe", though, as when the chips were down, Joe proved he was the best. AA is far from it. Apart from the belt-holders at 130, there are several others who could probably beat him handily, including Soto, Juarez and Barrios. Also, several at 126 who could move up (Linares, John, Luevano). AA will be a very fortunate chap if things pan out in his favour.

I don't think Arthur would have a problem going to the likes of Vegas or wherever.

Sure, hasn't he been over there before to work with Freddie Roach and Wayne McCullough.

IM glad we're all in agreement with this Alex Arthur fella. I never liked him and thought he was too quick to claim his pathetic fight last time was 'no iterim fight, this was a world title fight'.

He didnt look much that night and he seems a useful euro level operator at best, but like Audley seems to go way over the top with his speeches.

SPOILER

Guzman won. Too mobile and fast for Soto. Looks like it was all wrong for Soto, who needs to set his feet to punch. Guzman apparently kept up his gameplan all 12 rds and won pretty clear. He's better at 130 than I though he was.

Guzman could well move up to lightweight now. He won't want to fight on an Allegedly show after the Scott Harrison farce anyway. Can't see Arthur winning this fight. He's good Euro level but I'm not sure about world class. Was starting to like him but I hated his fight with Gogoladze. He basically threw himself at the guy with wild shots, initiated loads of clinches and took the steam out of him when he gcould actually get room for short punches.

Unless AAA is more than he looked last time, and unless he's way stronger @ the weight than Guzman, I can't see him beating the Dominican. Wait out a vacant title mebbe?

Was It true that Guzman was 10st 8 going Into the ring?

How the feck can they fight well dehydrating so much weight?

Autobarn wrote:SPOILER

Guzman won. Too mobile and fast for Soto. Looks like it was all wrong for Soto, who needs to set his feet to punch. Guzman apparently kept up his gameplan all 12 rds and won pretty clear. He's better at 130 than I though he was.

Guzman could well move up to lightweight now. He won't want to fight on an Allegedly show after the Scott Harrison farce anyway. Can't see Arthur winning this fight. He's good Euro level but I'm not sure about world class. Was starting to like him but I hated his fight with Gogoladze. He basically threw himself at the guy with wild shots, initiated loads of clinches and took the steam out of him when he gcould actually get room for short punches.

Unless AAA is more than he looked last time, and unless he's way stronger @ the weight than Guzman, I can't see him beating the Dominican. Wait out a vacant title mebbe?

I watched it last night on HBO in the end and Guzman was superb. Soto made it a very close fight, but Joan's counter punching was frankly perfect.

He'd pick Arthur to shreads if he stayed at the weight, but I suspect he'll move up to LW now. Especially as there's more names he can fight (he'll never get JMM cos of GBP and Pacman might not hang around either).

He easily looked 9.5 stones, maybe over 10. I missed the stats for ring weight at the start.

Mares didn't look too impressive though. Possibly down to inexperience.

Anyone know the Judah result?

Guzman could well be in the running for big fights. He's promoted by Sycuan but GBP have a piece of him. Last night's bout came about because of the GBP/Arum agreement over Pac. They're making good fights, if the past 2 weekends are anything to go by.

I like Soto a lot. Looks like his foe had the wrong style (speed/mobility) for him. Humberto has a lot of the qualities and weaknesses that Castillo had. Maybe Soto-Arthur for the vacant title if Guzman gives it up.

hard, hard luck for Soto. He's been banging on that WBC door and he could've beaten Marquez or mopped the floor with old Barrera/Morales. But a WBO shots comes out of the blue and he loses... vastly inferior men than him win world titles.