Lyndon Arthur narrowly avoids upset defeat against Liam Cameron

FORMER light-heavyweight world title challenger Lyndon Arthur narrowly avoided an upset on the scorecards after tonight’s main event in Bolton.

The 33-year-old was taken the 10-round distance by Sheffield’s Liam Cameron who only returned to the ring last year after a long absence from the sport.

As the final bell sounded for the end of the fight it appeared Arthur had done enough to win but judge Steve Gray scored the contest 95-93 in favour of Cameron. However, the two remaining officials – Jesus Morata Garcia and Michel Maksiuta – preferred Arthur’s work awarding him the win 95-93 and 97-91, respectively.

Speaking ringside to Channel 5 after his win Arthur, 24-2 (16 KOs) was disappointed with his performance.

“Sub-par,” he described it.

“I thought that last scorecard was wide. I thought I won just about. Fair play to Liam. Might have dropped my level there but I got the W that’s all that matters.”

At Thursday’s weigh-in Arthur came in eight ounces over the 175lb limit and was quizzed on whether or not that played a part in his “sub-par” display.

“Maybe I misjudged the weight,” he replied. “It won’t happen again. I got the W, that’s all that matters. It is what it is.”

Arthur, who holds a win over Anthony Yarde on his record, is hungry to get back in the mix with his domestic rivals and London’s Dan Azeez has been on his radar for some time.

“I want to get in the big fights,” he said. “Whoever makes sense. I won’t perform like that again. But fair play to Liam. That was his huge opportunity. He gave it a good go.”

Being one half of tonight’s card-topper at the Bolton Whites Hotel was a massive boost to the career of Cameron, 23-6 (10 KOs), who spent four years in the boxing wilderness having been banned from the sport after testing positive for traces (25 nanograms) of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, in 2020. Taking on Arthur was a giant step-up in class for the 33-year-old but on the night he proved he can carry on in the sport and continue to mix in good company in the UK.

Cameron was on the front foot early looking to unsettle Arthur but had his nose bloodied by his opponent’s tried and tested left jab which was effective throughout.

At the end of the second round punches were thrown after the bell, first by Cameron and then by Arthur whose own connection dropped the underdog a second after it landed. Referee Howard Foster deducted a point from Arthur at the beginning of third for his illegal shot.

Cameron continued with effective aggression and had he possessed more power in his arsenal it would have been a disastrous night for Arthur. As it was Arthur always got back on his jab when things weren’t going to plan.

By the halfway stage it looked like an even fight but Arthur showed signs of why he is still highly thought of and in the sixth landed a jab and a right over the top which Cameron never saw coming. The Yorkshireman then felt the force of the law when referee Gray deducted a point for rabbit punching.

Arthur was always just ahead but made life hard for himself on the ropes inviting pressure from Cameron who rarely backed away. By the eighth Arthur went hunting and looked to walk down Cameron who became more elusive in the final minutes. The hunter looked more of a handful in attack mode and had he started the fight in a similar manner he may not have had to go the distance.