McArthur is ready for big time title fight

Published 1 Sep 2010 09:00 0 Comments

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BANKIE boxer Gary McArthur has just landed the biggest fight of his life - and hopes to use it as a springboard to greatness.

The 28-year-old self-styled Clydebank Blitz was left stunned when his manager, Tommy Gilmour, contacted him out of the blue to break the news that the British Boxing Board of Control has accepted the proposal for McArthur to be part of a British title eliminator fight.

Former Braidfield High pupil McArthur, from Drumry, will now take on English lightweight champion Martin Gethin in a winner-takes-all showdown on a date before the end of November.

A delighted McArthur told Sport Scene: “It was unexpected when I got the call from Tommy to tell me the news.

“I was surprised but relieved at the same time to be given this shot and it’s given me the buzz and focus back.

“I’m really looking forward to it already because this could be it for me. I can’t look beyond this fight, but it could be a big year for me. If I can win this eliminator and then could go on and win the British title, then a few defences of that would start to bring in the big purses that I’ve always chased.

“This is what all the hard work over the years has been about so I need to make sure I grab this chance with both hands.”

When McArthur takes to the ring for this latest challenge he will be looking to complete a hat-trick of victories over the Gethin brothers, having already disposed of Darren and Steve in the early stages of his career.

But the confident southpaw, who has lost just one of his 16 professional fights, knows that it will be a tough battle against a fighter who has an impressive 18 wins out of 22, with seven knock-outs.

McArthur said: “Martin is the best brother out of the three of them and is rated between number seven and ten in Britain.

“I’ve started training for it already, even though I don’t know when the fight will be, and I am so focused about performing.

“I’ve got nothing to fear and everything to gain now - the world is my oyster.”

The picture of Martin Gethin which was used alongside this story was courtesy Jane Warburton from Saddoboxing.com (www.Saddoboxing.com).

This article appeared in Clydebank Post 01 Sep 10

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