Lyndon Arthur Decisions Boris Crighton, Guaranteed To Fight For IBO World Title Next
Lyndon Arthur Gets Past Late Notice Replacement To Keep World Title Shot Plan Alive
Kalle Sauerland confirmed in the official post-fight interview that Lyndon Arthur will get his IBO light-heavyweight world title shot next, following last night’s unanimous points win over Boris Crighton, which was closer than two of the scorecards suggested (98-92, 99-91)
Arthur was originally supposed to fight Braian Nahuel Suarez for the title but the Argentinian failed a pre-fight medical. A former sparring of Arthur, Boris Crighton stepped in as a late replacement with just 8 hours’ notice before the weigh-in.
Sauerland said the new date for the IBO world title would be in May but a nasty cut to the right of Arthur’s eye will need time to heal, so it’s likely that he will have to wait longer than that for his chance at the belt.
Arthur started the fight by comfortably pushing out the jab, until the fight came alive as a contest when Crighton troubled Arthur with a giant right over the top in the 3rd round. After that moment, Crighton had further success with the same shot by ducking down into low positions to generate power.
Consequently, a wake-up call was handed to Arthur after round 7 when Sunny Edwards revealed to him that “TV have you down on the scorecards”. Arthur went on to up the ante and had a breakthrough moment in the 9th round, as he put his shots together, which were repeatedly landing flush. A chopping Arthur right hand landed with downward force on the target at the end of the 10th and final round, with Crighton saved by the bell.
Arthur admitted to IFL TV afterwards that he could been more confident in utilising the right hand earlier, whilst simultaneously warning his light-heavyweight rivals that ‘As soon as I land my right hand on anyone, they understand that I’ve got more than just the jab.’
With those words, Arthur’s evaluation of his performance seems pretty spot-on. He showed enough glimpses of his power to give his domestic foes something to ponder. But ultimately, the fight could have been as one-sided as those two judges suggested, had Arthur had more self-belief to put combinations together.
By Harry Duffy
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