HITMAN FIRES WARNING TO BURNETT

RICKY HATTON is plotting former charge Ryan Burnett’s downfall in front of his home fans in Belfast on Saturday.

Unbeaten IBF bantamweight champ Burnett (left, top) turned pro with Hatton in 2012 and had four fights under his tutelage before quitting to join Adam Booth in 2014.

Hatton was proud when Burnett claimed the IBF title in June, but says his reign will be ended by his Kazakh WBA Super champ Zhanat Zhakiyanov at the SSE Arena.

“I knew 100 per cent Ryan had the ability to go all the way when I was training him,” said the Hitman (left, bottom). “But I was having problems at the time, I wasn’t in a good place, and Ryan felt the training was better elsewhere.

“But Ryan’s going to have to show more than his talent in this one. If he doesn’t nail Zhanat to the canvas in the first few rounds, he’s in for a very tough night.”