Scottish Amateur And Professional Boxing
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Barrie Lee's return match against Vinnie Valdassara is perhaps the most intriguing contest on the Arthur v Docherty undercard as far as Scottish fight fans are concerned.
Whereas both Ricky Burns and Gary Young face opposition that they should comfortably overcome, the Scottish Middleweight champion is back in the ring with the one man who has stood in his way to date. Indeed if it wasn't for the draw against Vinny Valdassara at the Marriott Hotel in Glasgow last October, Lee would have a perfect nine out of nine record.
Since their first contest, the Clydebank boxer has chalked up two wins and will be looking to cause an upset against Lee and over four rounds there won't be much in it. It should go the distance and Barrie Lee should edge it.
Ricky Burns beat British Lightweight champion Graham Earl to upset the boxing apple cart last time out in a fight that was televised by Sky.
Tonight at Meadowbank, the Coatbridge Super Featherweight faces Ugandan born Buster Dennis in what is very much a case of marking time for Burns after the high of victory at Wembley. Ricky has shown that he can mix it with the best domestically so it's disappointing to see him in against a journeyman.
Although durable, Dennis has won just five of 15 contests and has been beaten by the likes of Jamie Arthur, Kevin O'Hara and unbeaten Scottish bantamweight Michael Crossan.
Victory over Earl will have given Burns a massive confidence boost and if he turns on the style at Meadowbank like he did at Wembley he'll cruise to a very easy points win against Dennis.
Similarly, although billed as a step up in class for Gary Young, his contest against ageing Victor Baranov should hold no surprises. Light Welterweight Ted Bami stopped the Russian in two last April and you have to favour Young to avoid going the distance once again with a stoppage win. Round four of five says I.
Scott Flynn's fight against Mark Moran has been cancelled after Moran pulled out. This looked a very tough one for Flynn who has won two from three while the unbeaten southpaw from Liverpool has won five and drawn one to date. Another time perhaps.
And of course there's the small matter of Craig Docherty versus Alex Arthur to decide who is the best Super Featherweight not just in Scotland, but in Britain and the Commonwealth too.
It seems that Arthur's punching power has made him the favourite, but the Doc can dig as well - just ask Dean Pithie who he stopped in eight rounds to claim the Commonwealth title in the first place. Docherty is also much the wiser for paying the price for going head to head with Michael Gomez and I can't see him making the same mistake with Arthur.
It's going to be a close run thing, a genuine 50-50 match-up that boxing needs if it it is thrive as a sport today. I could sit on the fence and say may the best man win, but I've a sneaky suspicion that Hot Property Docherty will surprise a lot of people tonight and beat Alex Arthur.
Tickets for Arthur v Docherty priced at £75, £50 and £30 are available from the Meadowbank Sports Centre (0131 661 5351) and Morrison's Gym (0141 554 7777).