Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Ricky will not give up
Ricky Burns vowed that he would be back after a gruelling 12-round defeat to Anthony Crolla in Manchester.
Coatbridge’s three-weight world champion narrowly lost on points to hometown hero Crolla – but was aiming to be back in the ring for his half century of fights in the near future.
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.
Burns lost his WBA superlightweight crown to IBF and IBO holder Julius Indongo in April and has heard pundits writing him off since then.
The clash between the box-office Brits had been a decade in the making – and was touted as the end of the line for the loser.
However, Burns insisted that despite defeat to the Englishman he has proved that he can still compete at the top level.
“When I lost against (Julius) Indongo everyone was writing me off and saying I was finished, ”he said in the post-match press conference at the time.
“People were saying I‘ve not got anything left.
“But I said I’d be the first to admit it if when I’m in not where I want to be in the gym.
“I’m sparring, with some of the top class fighters and youngsters, and I wasn’t keeping up with them, I’d be the first to say this isn’t for me anymore. “That isn’t the case. “I’ve definitely got a few more big fights left in me.”