Arthur puts film role on Hold

Alex Arthur has put his ambitions of winning an Oscar on hold - to concentrate on his upcoming fight against Nicky Cook. Edinburgh star Arthur will make the first defence of his WBO World Super-Featherweight title at the M.E.N Arena on September 6 that also features Commonwealth Lightweight Champion Amir Khan. And because of the fight, Arthur has abandoned his acting debut, which would have seen him star in Viking epic, Valhalla Rising, alongside acclaimed Danish star, Mads Mikkelsen. Mikkelsen is familiar to film fans haveing played James Bond villain Le Chiffre in Casino Royale. "I'm disapointed that I won't be in the film, but boxing comes first and there will be further opportunities down the line," said Arthur, who has long expressed an interest in becoming a film star. "I'll just have to leave all the Viking warrior stuff to the fight itself, which I believe will be a classic Battle of Britain. "I know Cook is desperate to become a world champion and aims to make me pay because Scott Harrison pulled out of their fight, but there will be no Hollywood ending for him. "I was due to film my part in the coming weeks, and I just couldn't fit it around training for this fight. "I remember a few years ago, Lennox Lewis filmed Ocean's 11 instead of preparing for his fight with Hasim Rahman in South Africa, and got knocked out in a massive upset. "I just couldn't take the risk of that happening to me. "I've always been keen on acting, and it is definitely an option for when I have finished my career in the ring. "Sean Connery is one of my ultimate heroes, while I've always been inspired by Scottish actors like Ewan MacGregor and Robert Carlyle - as well as all the boxers I looked up to as well.
"As well as wanting to become a three weight world champion, which I believe I'm well on course to achieving, I also want to win an Oscar as well." Arthur, 30 and had been cast in Valhalla Rising through his cousin, Jamie Sives, who also stars in the film. Tickets for 2 Hot 2 Handle, priced at £30, £40, £50, £100, £150 and £200, are available from http://www.frankwarren.tv/ and the following outlets: M.E.N Ticketmaster 0870 190 8000 www.men-arena.com See Tickets 0871 220 0260 www.seetickets.com Ticket Factory 0871 945 6000 http://www.ticketfactory.co.uk/ BWFC 0871 871 2932 khantickets@bwfc.co.uk Khan Boxing 01204 535 332 www.amirkhan-boxing.com