SCOTLAND’S Alex Arthur Jr says he is desperate to land his first British title in front of home support this weekend.
The reigning Scottish Elite Golden Gloves Light-Heavyweight champion is one of 26 Scots who have been selected for the GB Elite Three Nations Championships.
The best senior boxers from Scotland, England and Wales will face off on Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd June at Inveralmond Community High School in Livingston.
Edinburgh boxer Alex Jr is sure to be heavily supported at the event, as he looks to follow in the footsteps of Dad Alex Arthur Sr, who previously won amateur GB titles.
“It is like a home event and that gives me more motivation to win that Gold medal,” said Alex Jr.
“It would be amazing to win my first British title in Scotland.
“It would mean everything, it would be absolutely brilliant.
“It would be a great way to end the season.
“I’ve not lost a fight in my last six bouts and I feel like I have a good bit of momentum going now.
“I won my District title, then won the Scottish title – so to win the British would be a trio of titles, and it would be my first time round for each of them.”
It has been a stellar year so far for the boxer from AAA Boxing Academy, winning the Eastern District and Scottish National Championship.
The 22-year-old, who recently took part in training camps in Brighton and Belfast with the Boxing Scotland Performance team, believes he has improved a lot since his first attempt at the GB Elite Championships in Rotherham last year, where he collected a Bronze medal.
“I feel like I have grown into my man strength now and filled into the weight,” Alex Jr added.
“In the past 6-8 months everything has clicked into place and I have left no stone unturned going into the competition this weekend.
“I am confident that I will be coming away with a Gold medal for Scotland.
“The trips in the past year since the British have definitely levelled me up.
“Even when you come back from the trips and you are training back home, you think ‘I want to be as good as that guy I was training with – so next time I go on a trip I will be even better’.
“So it is about bettering yourself every time and I have had plenty of opportunities to do that.”
Not only does Alex Jr have the chance to win his first GB title, he also has the opportunity to be part of a record-breaking squad.
Team Scotland have already had 18 British champions crowned at GB Schools, Junior & Youth events in Cardiff and Nottingham this month.
The all-time record number of GB Three Nations champions at all age categories in one season for Boxing Scotland stands at 20, with the senior competition this weekend the final event of the season.
“I think three more Gold medals is a very little number for this team that we have got,” Alex Jr said regarding the chance to break the all-time GB Gold medal record for Scotland.
“I have been training with the guys on this team now for about two years and we have all progressed individually and together as a team.
“I am confident that all my teammates will be walking away with Gold medals and make history.”
Tickets can be purchased in advance of the event at the link below, priced at £20 per day for adults and £10 per day for Juniors. Alternatively, tickets can be purchased on the door of the event;
https://shop.ticketing.cm.com/gb-three-nations-elite-championships
Doors open at 11:30am each day, before the actions gets underway at Noon.
