ALEX ARTHUR will use the Ricky Hatton template to defeat the veteran Russian, Boris Sinitsin, en route to worldwide recognition.
The British boxers have been friends since their amateur days and Arthur, 26, was suitably impressed by Hatton's assured dethroning of the Russian-born Australian WBC light-welterweight champion, Kostya Tszyu, in Manchester two weeks ago. He has remained in close contact with the new world champion and has been equipped with some expert knowledge to end Sinitsin's long reign as European superfeatherweight champion.
The circumstantial similarities have not been lost on Arthur, who has rediscovered his focus and, more importantly, his defence since the unsightly British title defeat to the maverick Michael Gomez 20 months ago.
Sinitsin, like Tszyu, has been involved in a series of energysapping wars and at 34 and with more than 50 pro fights under his belt, does not have many defences left in him.
Arthur has intensified his training and heeded the advice of his esteemed colleague to prepare himself for the spoiling tactics of Sinitsin by hiring the quickest amateurs around.
"I spoke to Ricky a couple of months ago on the phone and the tip he gave me, as he was preparing for Tszyu, was to get three or four top-class amateurs in for sparring rather than showering the place with pros, " he said. "You have to be so sharp nowadays, and these amateurs are like whippets."
By the time the Russian's latest bout comes along at the Kelvin Hall on July 9, nine months will have elapsed since his bloody victory against Craig Docherty, whom Arthur only recently consigned to another punishing defeat. Arthur said:
"He has been out of the ring for a while and two things can happen as a result of that:
either he can come back fresh from his lay-off or he can show signs of ring-rust that will sap the energy out of his legs. I know what I am hoping for."
While Arthur's career stalled against Gomez, his contemporaries, Hatton and Scott Harrison, have enhanced theirworld champion credentials. Now, with his 27th birthday two weeks away, he is dedicated to joining the elite crew, with his own world-title shot expected within a year if he disposes of Sinitsin.
His preferred option, the IBF champion from Australia, Robbie Peden, has signed up to face Marco Antonio Barrera, but the Argentine holder of the WBO belt, Jorge Rodrigo Barrios, is also on the agenda.
First, though, Sinitsin must be stopped in style. "He has a great CV, the longest I have seen, but I want to cream his ass so badly. All the guys I grew up with in the amateurs are nowworld champions and this is the final step towards getting to where I should have been before losing to Gomez."
If successful, Arthurwill have completed the rare distinction of holding British, Commonwealth and European titles. He will marry his long-term partner, Debbie, on September 28 but has designs on a quick return to the ring if Sinitsin is overcome. "Debbie wasn't too happy about that until I told her it would at least mean plenty of money in the bank after the wedding."
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