New York.– Super-featherweight champion Joan Guzman last night launched a heavyweight attack on Alex Arthur. The Dominican fighter insisted the Scot was trying to dodge their fight.

The pair should have fought at the Meadowbank Arena tonight to establish who was world champion but visa problems prevented Guzman from entering the country.

And yesterday he spent his 31st birthday at home with his family in New York while giving Arthur grief instead of greetings from the other side of the Atlantic.

Guzman said: "My real celebration was supposed to be this weekend in Scotland but Arthur's scared and running for the hills in Edinburgh. So, instead of blowing this guy out in front of his home-town fans, I had to settle for blowing out the candles on my birthday cake.

"But mark my words, when I retain my world title by knocking Arthur out that'll be the icing on the cake. I would be the happiest boxer in the world if I found out today that he and his promoter Frank Warren finally agreed on a date to fight me.

"All I want is Arthur in the ring. I don't think that's too much to ask," he pointed out.