Lyndon Arthur fights for a chance at a title, and to honor his late brother،
Lyndon Arthur was 10 years old when he faced the greatest trauma of his life. With that in mind, how can a fight against one of the sport's most feared boxers, Dmitry Bivol, measure up?
Arthur's older brother, Zennen Blackburn, aged 27 at the time and a father of two, was shot multiple times at close range in Manchester, England, in May 2002. Zennen's killers did not never been arrested. Since then, Arthur has faced this tragic moment.
“As you get older, you understand what kind of impact things had on you when you were younger and I now understand the trauma that I went through,” Arthur told ESPN. “It happened right near my house. [Zennen] was a boxer and Pat told me he was good. I never saw him box because I was too young. I know he would be proud of what I'm doing, fighting for a world title.”
And should Arthur win Saturday against Bivol for the WBA light heavyweight title, he is ready to dedicate the victory to his late brother. But defeating Bivol will be far from easy.
Arthur (23-1, 16 KOs) is a big underdog (+1100, according to ESPN BET) during his first attempt at a world title, against Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs), a fight on the huge card taking place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It's a tall order, but Arthur — No. 9 in the latest ESPN rankings for the 175-pound division — has come into his own at bigger junctures in his life.
Seven years after the shooting, Arthur was at a critical point when his uncle, Pat Barrett – a former welterweight world title challenger – found him in an emotional state sitting on a curb near where his brother was shot. Arthur said Barret took him to a local boxing gym in Manchester when he was in his late teens. He was introduced to Brian Hughes, an inspirational trainer who worked with Barrett, Robin Reid, Michael Jennings, Michael Gomez, Scott Quigg and even reigning WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury for a short time. Hughes would play a significant role in Arthur's early development, which Arthur believes was crucial in the direction his life took.
Arthur, 32, grew up in Moston, Manchester, three miles from English Premier League team Manchester City's Etihad Stadium, an area where crime and street violence was an easy option for Arthur as a teenager.
“I wasn't doing the best things outside of sport when I started boxing and it would have been easy for me to get into something I shouldn't have. Boxing changed my whole life. That gave me a sense of direction, some authority,” Arthur told ESPN.
“It happened right next to my house. [Zennen] I was a boxer and Pat told me he was good, I never saw him box because I was too young. I know he would be proud of what I'm doing, fighting for a world title.”
Lyndon Arthur on his brother
Starting boxing late left Arthur playing catch-up. After an ordinary amateur career (6-6), Arthur's professional career gained momentum under the influence of Hughes.
“It took me a few years to really get into it, but I eventually got into it,” Arthur told ESPN. “Brian was one of those people who made you feel confident and better than you were. He was someone you listened to and he had time for me. I'm glad I got the best out of him before he gets sick.”
Hughes died in January 2022 at age 82.
“I probably would have gone down the wrong path without boxing, and Brian was one of the ones who really helped me in my career,” Arthur said.
Barrett will be in Arthur's corner against Bivol, 31 years after losing by points decision to Manning Galloway for the WBO welterweight world title in Manchester. Arthur's cousin, Zelfa Barrett (30-2, 16 KOs) is a junior lightweight contender who also lost a world title shot a year ago.
“Pat has always had my best interests at heart, which is good to know he’s on my side,” Arthur told ESPN.
Arthur has a tattoo of his brother on his arm and dedicated his split decision victory over English rival Anthony Yarde in December 2020 to Zennen. It was Arthur's best moment in his seven-year professional career. But Yarde (24-3, 23 KOs) knocked out Arthur in a rematch two years ago and won the world title against WBC, IBF and WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev last January. Yarde was brave, hungry and dangerous against Beterbiev, but the Russian caught the Londoner in the eighth round.
While Bivol is coming off two superlative victories over Canelo Alvarez and Gilberto Ramirez, Arthur's last fight was not a flawless performance. Arthur had to recover from a knockdown to stop Argentina's Braian Suarez with a body shot in the 10th round three months ago.
“It wasn't my best performance, but I showed what I had to do to get the win, I showed that I could get back up and stop it,” Arthur told ESPN. “I showed that I have it in me, that I can walk off the field if need be. I have a good knockout record, and the first fight against Yarde is probably my most significant victory.
Manchester United fan 'King' Arthur has recorded four wins since losing his unbeaten run to Yarde. Landing the biggest opportunity of his career before the end of 2023 was surprising.
“The fight was a bit of a shock, I thought I was going to fight in February, but then they offered me Bivol for December 23 and I said 'Yeah, I'm in',” Arthur said at ESPN. . “Everyone knows how good Bivol is, I'm fully aware of what Bivol can do, but I just need to focus on being the best version of myself, not on him. I'm getting ready for someone who is going to take me seriously, don't overlook me. I don't wonder if they underestimate me.
