BURNING AMBITION

Three-weight champ Ricky hoping to use big Crolla clash as a springboard to world glory

RICKY BURNS insists he can become world champion again ahead of his make-orbreak clash with Anthony Crolla at Manchester Arena tonight.

Burns claims he is far from finished despite losing the WBA light-welterweight crown in his last fight and believes beating ex-lightweight king Crolla can propel him towards another world title bid.

Burns has written his name into the record books as Scotland’s first three-weight world champ and says he has more chapters to pen in his career.

“I look at every fight as a must-win fight,” he said. “Given the incentive in front of us, the possibility of challenging for the world title again, I need to make sure I go out and win, which I’m confident of doing.

“People say to me, ‘If you lose this what are you going to do?’ That thought hasn’t crossed my mind. I know this is a hard fight but the carrot of a possible world title fight means the rewards are massive.

“We’re both in the same boat now, coming back after a loss and looking to get back among the big boys.”

Burns, 34, claims he never contemplated retiring for a second after losing to Julius Indongo in April, even though the defeat was his fourth in his last nine fights.

The Coatbridge fighter says he still feels hungry and will carry on until he “hates” training. “Over the last year everyone has asked when I’m going to retire,” said Burns, who is coming back down to lightweight to fight Crolla for the British title.

“I won’t be done until I hate training and I am fed up with dieting. If there ever came a point that I was coming out hurt fight after fight, or in the gym taking too many punches, I’d know it would be time to call it a day.

“But I’ve got lots of big nights left in me and I am confident that Saturday will be one of them.”