50 not out for Ricky

Ring star wins landmark bout — and insists he’s got plenty left in the tank...

Ricky Burns says he’s got “more in the tank” after winning his milestone 50th fight on Saturday.

The Coatbridge fighter stopped Croat Ivan Njegac in the fifth round of their bout at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena. The 35- year- old dominated the fight from the start and chalked up his 42nd c a re e r victory, bouncing back from a defeat to Anthony Crolla in his previous fight last October. The third round proved to be key for ‘Rickster’ as he landed powerful blows to his opponent’s body along with some flush hooks which resulted in Njegac’s team deciding to remove their man from the firing line.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the fight, he said: “There’s definitely a few big fights left in me.

“I just take things one fight at a time, I’ll take a couple of weeks and wait for news on what will be next.

“I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me; I’d love to fight Crolla again but I’m not sure if that will happen.

“I’m the oldest in the gym but it’s bringing the best out of me and it keeps me on my toes.

“There’s more in the tank, 100 per cent.

“I’ve always said that if we didn’t think there was more to give, we wouldn’t keep grinding every day.”

Burns, who is now taking some time off with family, is one of only three fighters from the UK to have won world titles in three different weight divisions.

He won the WBA superlightweight title when he stopped Italian Michele di Rocco in May 2016.

But he was then beaten in a unification fight with Julius Indongo in January last year before losing to Crolla on points nine months later.

His manager Alex Morrison believes Burns’ turn in form on Saturday is one of his most important performances to date.

He told the Advertiser: “Ricky has had nearly 10 months out of the ring.

“If he hadn’t won at the weekend he would have had to seriously consider retiring and I wouldn’t have wanted to see that scenario.

“I’m really proud and chuffed for him because it was a huge fight and he stepped up.

“He’ll be talking with Eddie Hearn soon to try and arrange his next big fight.

“Personally I’d like to see him take on Crolla again; I think that’s one people will want to see.

“He was magnificent on Saturday and it was so important for him to win that one.”