Arthur gives up European title

Alex Arthur has relinquished his European super-featherweight title as he closes in on a world championship shot in 2007.

The purse bids deadline for the Edinburgh boxer's mandatory defence of the European belt against Antonio Bento passed on Wednesday, but according to The Scotsman promoter Frank Warren decided to give up the title rather than make an offer for an unattractive match against the little-known Portuguese challenger.

Warren was unavailable for comment yesterday, but is understood to be poised to make a major announcement on Arthur's future. His course of action in dropping the European title suggests he is close to securing the world title shot he has promised to deliver for the 28-year-old Scot next year.

Arthur is in the top 15 rankings of all four major world sanctioning bodies.