Burns In Buoyant Mood

[The_budweiser]

Ricky Burns today insisted he will be Scotland's next world champion as he prepared for a showdown against Roman Martinez with an eight-round warm-up fight in Newcastle.

 

Commonwealth super-featherweight champion Burns is currently negotiating a deal to take on WBO champion Martinez next year.

 

Coatbridge-based Burns, 26, had been preparing for a crack at the British crown at the Metro Radio Arena a week on Saturday but holder Kevin Mitchell opted to move up to lightweight.

 

That fight was set to decide which of them would take on Martinez but the path is now clear for Burns to face the biggest fight of his career.

 

"Scotland's going to have a new world champion next year," he said. "An eight-rounder is going to take away any rust that I've got.

 

"Obviously, with a world title on the horizon it's a massive opportunity for me, something I've always dreamed of.

 

"I'm going to grab this chance with both hands."

 

Burns will take on an as yet unnamed opponent in Newcastle on the undercard to Amir Khan's WBA light-welterweight title defence.

 

"Although the opponent has not been named yet, I'll be out there and I'll just be treating this fight the same as any other fight," he said.

 

"I've trained hard, I've been training for the last 10 weeks for this fight.

 

"Obviously, there is disappointment with Kevin Mitchell moving up but, at the end of the day, when I was offered the world title fight I did have to grab it with both hands.

 

"If this chance comes, I'll be more than ready for it."

 

Burns (27-2) has won his last 12 bouts but was unconvincing in his most recent Commonwealth defence against Kevin O'Hara in June.

 

He said: "The better class of opponent I'm fighting, the better I'll box.

 

"A lot of people doubt me but, going on my last performance against O'Hara, I know I had an off night.

 

"But, again, I know I can have an off night and still win."

 

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