Some would have you believe that to be a world-beater in boxing requires more than a bit of spite, but that does not have to be the case. After an IBF heavyweight title bout in 2002, Evander Holyfield and Chris Byrd knelt in the ring together to pray and on Saturday, at the start of the final round, Nicky Cook and Alex Arthur exchanged kisses on the cheek. Sometimes a touch of gloves is not enough.

It was Cook who got more out of the friendship, taking Arthur’s WBO super-featherweight title via a unanimous points decision. It put the winner in an interesting position. Britain started the year with six world champions, but if Joe Calzaghe keeps his promise to retire after facing Roy Jones Jr on November 8, Cook could be the only one remaining.

His performance in Manchester had been a revelation. Last summer, on the night that question marks were first raised about Amir Khan’s ability to take a punch, Cook was stopped by Steve Luevano as he tried to win the WBO featherweight title.

Four pounds heavier, he looked a world-beater and was a conclusive winner, despite Arthur’s belief that three English judges had robbed the Scot of his title. In the first half of the bout, Cook, 28, from Dagenham, Essex, repeatedly beat Arthur to the punch. It was only in the final few rounds that Arthur started to get to Cook, but by then it was too late.

“We had a game plan and stuck to it,” Cook said. “It was, ‘Keep it sensible, at arm’s length, when you get inside, get in close and don’t let him work’ - and it paid off.” Arthur could get a rematch in December, but if Cook is concerned about boxing a friend, the alternative could be against virtually family. The leading contender for his title is Kevin Mitchell, who is trained by Cook’s father, Paul.

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