Ricky eager to seal Crolla rematch for 50th pro fight

Coatbridge boxing hero Ricky Burns is determined to get back to winning ways in 2018.

The three-weight world champion admits he has had a disappointing year — after being defeated by Julius Indongo in his lightwelterweight unification bout at the Hydro, before a close-call between Anthony Crolla saw Burns narrowly defeated on points.

However, Burns expects to make it 50 fights next Spring and already has a rematch with Manchester favourite Anthony Crolla in mind.

He says his camp are in talk with a number of parties - and would also be keen to get back in the title picture. For now, the Monklands native is happy to be enjoying time with family over the festive period.

“I’ll get Christmas Day up here with the family and then it’s right back into the serious stuff,” he told the Advertiser.

“I’ll be able to enjoy a good meal — which isn’t always the case when you’re trying to cut weight before a fight!”

He continued:“Obviously against (Julius) Indongo I was gutted to lose the belt and with how that fight went.

“I then went back down to light-weight against Crolla and I think that is where I really show

my best. That is one fight we had spoken about for a good while, so we were happy to get that one under our belt.

“I think I showed that is the weight I’m most comfortable at.

“Obviously when I had the chance to go and fight for titles at lightwelterweight I was going to take it.

“To be honest, looking back I’m probably just a bit too small for that division.

“I’m definitely staying at lightweight now.“

Burns’ ideal fight — which he understands could be in March or April — would be to go again with long-term pal Crolla on home turf.

During their bout in October, the judges had it 116-113, 117-112, 116-114 to the Mancunian, however the margin of the victory surprised the Manchester Arena crowd, with some even pegging the bout as a draw.

Braveheart Burns felt he had done enough to win the fight and celebrated after the final bell.

“My ideal fight would be in Glasgow,” the former champ added.

“I went down to Manchester to fight in front of his crowd and it was a really good atmosphere.

“I want to have that same thing up here. It’ll be a good rematch.”

Looking forward to 2018 Burns has plenty of ambition left in him