Lyndon Arthur is “delighted” with Liam Cameron's performance; he still hopes to fight Dan Azeez

A possible fight between Lyndon Arthur and Dan Azeez has been in and out of the boxing headlines for the past 12 months but Arthur says he is still hopeful it will happen.

The Manchester light heavyweight told the BBC in 2023 that he and Azeez were on a “collision” to fight at another British landmark at 175lbs. We have already seen Joshua Buatsi, who is considered to be the British number 1, beat Azeez and Craig Richards who lost earlier this month to the rising Willy Hutchinson. Arthur, too, played a major role against Anthony Yarde but was stopped in the fourth round of their rematch.

Tomorrow night (June 21) on Channel 5 'King' Arthur, 23-2 (16 KOs), will return to his horse to fight Liam Cameron, 23-5 (10 KOs). This represents a great opportunity for Arthur to win again – and the WBA belt – six months since his last fight when he lost to WBA world champion Dmitry Bivol in Saudi Arabia.

Arthur spoke to him Debate News about Friday's work at the Bolton Whites Hotel.

“This is his chance. He has to bring his A game, which means I have to bring my A game. So I don't mind Liam Cameron at all and I enjoyed Friday's performance.”

Any hope of facing Azeez may have vanished last weekend at Selhurst Park when Croat Hrvoje Sep almost caused a major upset. After eight rounds referee Bob Williams scored the fight 76-76. The good news at least is that Arthur vs. Azeez is always possible.

“It's a fight I want,” said Arthur.

“I know that Dan Azeez played a draw at the weekend but I don't believe he was at his best. I think you may have taken the enemy easily, or the camp easily. You know, you have those days sometimes when you can't always be perfect.

“I'm sure if he fights me he'll train 100% and he won't give up and mine and his style will be a great fight. If that fight starts, if that fight is going to happen, I will look forward to it.”

Arthur, like Azeez, is the long-time favorite to beat Cameron who returned to boxing last October after serving a four-year ban from UKAD after testing positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of benzoylecgonine. cocaine. The same year he received his ban, his adopted daughter Tiegan lost her life in a road accident. Cameron has battled and overcome alcohol addiction. It's a difficult story that Channel 5 viewers will be reminded of tomorrow night during the broadcast.

“I've heard quite a bit,” Arthur said of Cameron's problems. “I think he was blocked by a fist, right? He was drinking or something. Other than that, I don't care. I can't look at you. I will, maybe, after the fight. Maybe I'll talk to him, maybe I won't. Couldn't really care less for a minute. After the war, it might be a different story. “

His response was not disrespectful or offensive but in fight week any boxer must focus on himself alone. Arthur would have expected no mercy for his story which saw 10-year-old Lyndon lose his older brother Zennen Blackburn after he was shot dead in Bolton.

At the age of 19 Arthur discovered boxing and would not play his first professional match until he was 25. His eight-year career featured big fights, a world title challenge and belt wins but it feels like there could have been more.

“I did well. I didn't do too bad. It is difficult to reach the level I am at,” he said.

“Obviously I've had a few problems. Nothing is always easy. I took it as it came and I was in the headlines for the last time… I even thought that the last fight with Bivol was a headline fight. I've probably headlined my last four or five shows. I've been in the headlines a total of about seven or eight.

“It's a big thing for me. I'm from Moston. Not many people do anything where I'm from or in Manchester. Not many people actually do anything. I carried the Manchester flag a bit in boxing, so I'm happy. Obviously, I could do more. I know I can do more. But the journey so far has been great.”