Arthur senses Sinitsin scalp
Alex Arthur claims he is on course for his date with destiny as he prepares to take on European super-featherweight champion Boris Sinitsin at Meadowbank on Saturday.
The Edinburgh fighter has recovered fully from his defeat against Michael Gomez in 2003 and is looking for the Russian’s belt to add to his British and Commonwealth titles he now holds.
Arthur claims he knew he would one day be taking on the 34-year-old Muscovite, who had his first professional fight in 1992, on his way to a possible world title opportunity.
He said: “I remember watching him when I was an amateur in my early 20s and he was a professional and I thought it would be the case that I would fight him for the European title one day.
“He’s got great experience. He’s a fantastic boxer and he’s been a European champion for a long time.
“He has constantly proved himself and he’s technically superior to most of the fighters I’ve been up against.
“But he’s had a long time out of the ring, 10 months, and I have had some tough fights in that time.
“But it’s not a foregone conclusion. I’ve got to go in there and make it happen. But I feel fantastic. I’m in great condition and looking forward to fighting in front of my fans again.”
A moody Sinitsin was reluctant to comment on anything at all but had another go at Arthur’s constant reference to his age.
He said: “I can’t foresee what will happen on the night, boxing is boxing. But age is not a problem, it means experience and skills. I hope Alex will be fighting when he is 34.”
The challenger quickly replied: “If I’m in as good a condition as Boris then I hope I will be boxing at his age.
“Age could be a factor, you never know. Sometimes boxers don’t find out until the night of the fight as we seen when Ricky Hatton fought Kostya Tszyu.
“But I’ve just turned 27 and I wouldn’t like to be fighting over the age of 32.
“Hopefully, by that time Frank Warren will have five or six million pounds in the bank for me.
“Obviously I’ve got to keep winning, get to the world level and take on the best.”
