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ALEX ARTHUR confessed yesterday that, with 72 hours to go until his crunch WBO Interim title clash with Georgia's Koba Gogoladze in Cardiff, he is using his only pro ring conqueror, Mancunian Michael Gomez, to psych himself up to win on Saturday.
Arthur said: "My wife Debbie and my three bairns have all moved out of the family home to let me concentrate mentally on ensuring that I beat Gogoladze and bring the belt back to Edinburgh on Sunday.
"But winning world titles is all about motivation and, while my family remain paramount, I've been thinking that, once I win on Saturday, I'd want to make two title defences by the end of 2007.
"As my only ring conqueror Michael Gomez has said he'd love to fight me again, one of these defences might be against him at Edinburgh Castle. Fans would turn out in droves for such a fight, given that my fight against Gomez was voted British fight of the year in 2003 when Michael stopped me at Meadowbank.
"But it won't ever happen if I slip up on Saturday against Gogoladze so this is firing me up even more to beat him. Of course, if Joan Guzman doesn't relinquish the full WBO title then he must fight me within 90 days but that would still leave plenty of time in 2007 for me to defend against Gomez. I respect Guzman but I also feel that his style would suit me so clashing with him wouldn't hold any terrors for me.''
Gomez has already suggested in British boxing trade paper ''Boxing News'' that, if Arthur beats Gogoladze, then he would be up for a rematch with the Scot.
Im sorry but this is a huge backward step, he wants to take Gomez on after four years and while Gomez is making a comeback in six rounders Arthur is fighting for World Titles, how does that one work out? A win over Gomez means nothing right now, he needs to move on to bigger things, anyway he still owes Micheal 40k for the bet they had in the first fight, Gomez is still pissed at that![]()
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