Alex Arthur insists sons were always destined to follow in his footsteps
Alex Arthur won't even bat an eye when his two sons take to the ring at the Hydro in Glasgow tonight.
Undefeated Alex Jnr is contesting his fourth professional bout, while Machlan makes his bow as a paid fighter.
This is their destiny, after all. Boxing is all they've known since they were born, Alex Jnr in late 2001 and Machlan, five and half years later, in 2007.
Offspring of a former world champion, it's hardly surprising, really. Growing up in an environment surrounded by blood, sweat, and tears, it's been engrained in their DNA since they were running around boxing gyms as toddlers.
"It's a bit surreal, but I can't say I'm emotional - I think I'm quite numb to it," former world super featherweight champion Arthur said. "I know that probably sounds bad, but I always expected this would happen. I think for the last six or seven years it's been quite obvious they would go down this path.
"I fought at the top level and had a really good career and I like to think of myself as a boxing expert. It's all I've ever done. If I didn't think the boys had the capabilities of being professional boxers, I'd have to be brutally honest and tell them.
"But I'm fine. They've been doing this for years now. People maybe think this is something new, but these are our lives. All the boys know is boxing, particularly Machlan. He's been boxing since he was five-years-old. He's been brought up this way, he doesn't really know anything else.
"He's very unique for this day and age. He's not into phones, doesn't have many pals, he's never had a drink in his life, he doesn't go out - he's lived like a professional boxer for years now."
An almost impeccable career as an amateur, Arthur admits he had a host of promoters vying for 19-year-old Machlan's signature. But it was Frank Warren, who was an enormous influence in his own career, who won the race. Super middleweight Alex Jnr, 24, is also under the Queensberry Promotions banner.
"All the promoters have been at me for a long time, mostly because of Machlan's knockout power," Arthur explained. "It's pretty unusual for a wee kid. Machlan has been knocking people out since he was 12, and not standing counts, he knocks them out cold. It's amazing. And that's what promoters are looking for.
"Frank did an amazing job with me, he really did. He's a fantastic promoter, especially for young and upcoming fighters. Machlan has signed a three-year deal so he's got five bouts scheduled for his first year, five for his second, and four in his third. Frank has given him a fantastic deal.
"He is glad to see the back of the amateurs to be honest. There's so much politics in amateur boxing in Scotland these days, Machlan kind of lost heart. He really didn't know if he was going to get the chance to go to the Commonwealth Games or the Olympics. It's terrible. He was starting to lose motivation. He had 59 amateur fights and he won 54, 38 by KO."
Boxing on the undercard of compatriot Nathaniel Collins' rematch featherweight duel against Cristobal Lorente, the Arthurs will look to impress, Alex Jnr against Owen Kirk and Machlan facing Donnie MacInnes in a four-round welterweight clash.
"I see a lot of myself in them," Arthur, now 47, said. "I had Alex Jnr when I was 22 - he's like my best mate as well. We share loads of the same characteristics. The boys are so supportive of one another, they're together all the time. It's brilliant to see - they play FIFA, go for coffees, train, they never argue.
"Alex has done really well so far in the pro game. He's never lost a round. He had a really tough fight in his last one, but Alex looked like a young Joe Calzaghe. Alex was due another four-rounder but I had a good chat with Frank and told him he's way past doing four rounds now. He's ready for six and eight rounds so he's got his first six on Friday night.
"They have to work really hard, I can't do it for them when they go into that ring. I think both of them will be fighting for big titles in the next few years."