ALEX ARTHUR, the former world, British and Commonwealth super-featherweight champion, yesterday kept a promise he made to his wife and three sons when he announced his retirement from the ring on his 35th birthday.

But the Edinburgh boxer claimed that he could have been persuaded to carry on had he been made an 11th hour offer to extend his career.

Arthur said: "I promised my family that I would retire at 35, but right up until midnight on Tuesday, if I had received the right offer, say a call from a great champion like Erik Morales at Edinburgh Castle, I'd have taken it.

"But the offer never came so I am quite happy to swan out but I'll still train twice a day to keep my six pack. My wife, Debbie, took me out to lunch to celebrate my birthday and I had a cream latte and some delicious peanut brownies and was back in the gym in the afternoon to burn it off."

Arthur is unlikely to be lost to boxing. He has already tried his hand, twice, as a promoter and as a big-fight TV analyst, in addition to having the necessary experience to train young fighters.

Arthur's most recent bout was 14 months ago on his own promotion at Meadowbank, where he outpointed Michael Frontin, from Mauritius, to rack up his 31st win in 34 contests since making his debut in 2000.

Glasgow promoter Tommy Gilmour paid tribute to Arthur, saying: "Alex did everything as an amateur and professional and he has much to feel proud of although he's probably a bit disappointed that he did not get more world title fights."

Meanwhile, Coatbridge's Ricky Burns will make the fourth defence of his World Boxing Organisation lightweight crown against Mexican Raymundo Beltran on September 7, at the SECC, as revealed in Herald Sport, after the Arizona-based 31-year-old was confirmed as the challenger by promoter Eddie Hearn yesterday.

Beltran, who has six losses on his 34-fight record, said: "I have been on the wrong end of some close decisions but I've never quit on myself or on my goal to be world champion.

"Burns is the champion so he won't give the title to me. I have to take it from him and I'm not flying across the Atlantic just to show up. He's going to know he's been in a war."