"YOU'LL see a new Jamie Arthur" was the young Gwent boxing star's promise this week ahead of his third professional fight at the Newport Centre on Saturday.

But first the 23-year-old former Commonwealth Games gold medallist has got to pass the doctor.

The Cwmbran lightweight spent Saturday to Monday in bed with a chest cold and was feeling quite rough.

But he told me yesterday: "I'm feeling a lot better and should be OK for Saturday.

"The cold is only in my nose now and I'm sure the doctor will pass me fit to fight, but if there's any doubt I won't go on.

"I'm just starting out on what I hope will be a long and successful career and I won't take any chances.

"There's too much at stake for me."

Arthur contracted the virus when spending some time at Army boxing trainer Vince Powell's Army training camp in Aldershot.

"I spent time there with Vince (from Gwent) before the Commonwealth Games. "It was beneficial then and I know it has been this time.

"The cold apart, I feel in great physical shape."

Since winning his first two pro fights on points, Arthur has switched back from the Charlie Pearson Penarth stable to former trainer Chris Manley at Coed Eva.

"Chris is a totally different trainer to Charlie, said Arthur.

"He puts much more emphasis on fitness training.

"I've been doing more runs, more skipping and more bag work and put more emphasis on speed work," he said.

"I promise you you'll see the real Jamie Arthur on Saturday.

"I'm not a one punch knock-out specialist.

"I like to be up on my toes, get in there and throw a few punches, and then get out again. "Boxing's all about hitting without being hit.

"The idea is to get to the top, make your money and get out intact."

Arthur fights fellow new professional Jaz Virdee (Peterborough) on Saturday's bill on the undercard to the Enzo Maccarinelli v Andrei Kiarsten WBU world cruiserweight title fight.

Arthur, grateful for the sponsorship of DJ Refrigeration of Cwmbran, knows nothing about his opponent, beaten on points in his one pro fight, but says: "No matter whether an opponent has had one fight or thirty, I will treat him with respect.

"It's up to me to deal with whoever I face on the night and I'm confident.

"It should be an electric atmosphere. It's only a 1,500- seater venue but if it's packed, as I hope, it will generate just as good an atmosphere as Joe Calzaghe creates at a packed CIA."

Meanwhile Arthur, thanks to the Elite Cymru scheme, is taking a course in sports studies at the University of Wales College, Newport, in preparation for the time when his fledgling career comes to an end.