Arthur Declared Champion

Alex Arthur has been declared the full WBO World Super-Featherweight champion after Joan Guzman vacated the belt and moved up to the lightweight division.The Scotsman was due to face Guzman on May 3 in Edinburgh, but the fight was delayed when the Dominican Republican pulled out because his management applied too late for a Visa.Arthur, 29, was waiting for the fight to be rescheduled - but had his "interim" world champion status upgraded by the WBO when Guzman decided to campaign at 135 pounds." I'm delighted with the decision by the WBO to give me full world champion status but I felt that I won the title when I beat Koba Gogoladze last July," said Arthur." I'm confident that I would have beaten Guzman had the fight been rescheduled but I believe that I am among the elite super-featherweights and want to prove myself as the best out there,"" But I'm proud to be Edinburgh's first world champion for 30 years, and am looking forward to making the first defence of my title."" My reign now begins!"Promoter Frank Warren added: "Britain has lost a few of its world champions over the last few months but we have got one back with Alex now declared as world champion,"" I believe he will be a long-term world champion. I'm working hard at the moment to deliver a new date and challenger for Alex."