Alex Arthur, the World Boxing Organisation's interim super-featherweight champion from Edinburgh, changed his tune somewhat yesterday when he discussed his impending bid to land the full-blown version of the crown against the title-holder, Joan Guzman of the Dominican Republic.
Arthur had previously hinted that Guzman, 32, may represent a step too far in his quest to realise his ambition to gain entry into Scotland's Boxing Hall of Fame.
"He Guzman is the first and only opponent who has made me think beforehand that there is a chance he might even beat me. Victory over Guzman is no foregone conclusion," Arthur said with remarkable candour in January.
Arthur, who has tasted defeat only once in 27 contests, is right to be more than a little concerned that his rival represents a tough test, given that Guzman boasts a perfect record of 28 wins, 17 inside the distance. Yet, the 29-year-old at least sounded much more upbeat this time when it was announced that the bout at Meadowbank Arena on Saturday, May 3 will be shown live by Setanta.
"While Guzman is smarter than to think I am a nobody, it will no doubt be at the back of his mind that this is a highly winnable fight for him," he said.
Arthur was quick to pose the question: "Who has Guzman fought? Why has he not been in with the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Marquez and Manny Pacquiao? The fact is I don't think they want to know Guzman. I also think he may not have paid me the respect I deserve. He has never fought a top-class European and we are a whole different ball game to the guys he has been up against in the past, most of whom have been one-dimensional."
Arthur also welcomed the fact that he has been cast in the role of underdog, believing that will be to his advantage. "That takes a lot of the pressure off me and will give me an edge and a sharpness," he said.
"I also have home advantage, so I won't need to worry about my diet or the climate and I will have the support behind me."
Arthur has contacted Wayne McCullough, the former world champion, with a view to training at the Irishman's gym in Las Vegas, where he feels he would get quality sparring, although he claimed to prefer training on the slopes of Arthur's Seat rather than running at altitude in Nevada's Red Rock Mountains.
"It is a mental thing," said Arthur. "The conditioning is necessary but I do find it easier to make the weight when I train at home and have my wife preparing my food."
Arthur believes that he is at long last mixing in company where he belongs. "This is where I ought to be and I want people to recognise the fact that I am a world champion level fighter," he said.
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