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Written by BBC Sport
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Sunday, 22 July 2007 |
 Alex Arthur moved a step closer to becoming a world super featherweight champion by stopping Kobo Gogoladze to claim the WBO interim title in Cardiff.
The Scot floored the Philadelphia-based Georgian three times before the referee eventually called a halt two minutes and 48 seconds into the 10th round.
It was exactly the emphatic display Arthur wanted to prove his credibility.
He is now the mandatory challenger to Joan Guzman, but would be champion if Guzman moves up a weight as expected.
Guzman, of the Dominican Republic, would also have to give up his belt if he fails to defend his title against Arthur within 90 days.
The 29-year-old from Edinburgh started and ended Saturday's fight in ferocious fashion, using his fast and efficient left hook to good effect.
He peppered a series of breath-sapping shots to the Georgian's body before an overhead right from Gogoladze, followed by a vicious left hook, gave him the momentum at the end of the first.
Gogoladze - known as the 'Road Runner' for his non-confrontational style - also caused the Scot some considerable discomfort early in the second round.
But Arthur, despite a deep cut below his right eye, gained the upper hand by forcing his 34-year-old opponent into the corner, pounding his body with some stinging combinations.
The right hook he cracked into Gogoladze's jaw 20 seconds before the end of the fourth round seemed to mark the fight as his.
It brought a frustrated sigh from Gogoladze, but also seemed to extract some of his notorious dirty tactics.
A low blow brought a warning from the referee and seemingly a repercussion from the Scot, who sent his opponent to the floor only to see it ruled as a push.
The sixth saw Arthur put Gogoladze against the ropes with a sharp right and a minute from the end of it, Gogoladze was floored by a left hook and faced a standing eight count.
Gogoladze fought bravely in the seventh, occasionally taking liberties in the clinch but aside from the stare-down at the end of the round it was tame compared to what went before.
Arthur put Gogoladze's upper body through the ropes again in the eighth and then floored his opponent for the second time with a left hook to the head.
The ninth saw Gogoladze lose a point for headbutting, but make several with a string of accurate jabs.
But Arthur appeared firmly in control and a thunderous left hook in the next sent Gogoladze crashing to the canvas.
He fought on, but after an avalanche of further punishment - with little coming in reply - the referee stopped the fight. |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 22 July 2007 )
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