NO TRASH NO TRUCE
Burns: Friendship will be on hold once first bell goes
RICKY BURNS will not be giving old pal Anthony Crolla any lip ahead of their lightweight showdown at the Manchester Arena.
But the Scottish hero warned he will show his teeth once the opening bell sounds.
Burns will square up with his former sparring partner on October 7 as the pair look to get back on the glory trail after losing world titles earlier this year.
The Coatbridge fighter surrendered his WBA light welterweight crown to Julius Indongo while Crolla failed to win back his WBA lightweight belt from Jorge Linares.
Both men are keen to claw their way back to the top and Burns admitted their friendship will be put on hold.
The former three-weight world champion said: “There won’t be any trash talking, we know each other too well.
“But once that first bell goes the friendship will change. It won’t be difficult. Boxing is my job and even going back to guys like Kevin Mitchell we were pals. We used to play Call of Duty on Xbox at night.
“At the end of the day it’s a business and you do what you need to do to win. I don’t want to give too much away just now. But there will be a time in the fight when both of us will need to bite down and go for it.
“It was years ago when we sparred. You can’t look into that. We have both gone on and done things in the game since then.
“I treat every fight the same. This time we’re both in the same boat after coming off losses and both have the incentive of going for another world title fight.
“There’s been a lot of talk about this fight in the last few weeks. The response has been unbelievable. It should be an exciting fight and it’s one I’m confident I will win.”
Burns admitted he’s fed up being asked when he’s planning to hang up the gloves and he insisted even at 34 there is plenty left in the tank.
He said: “All I seem to be getting now from people is, ‘When are you going to retire?’ I still have another couple of years left in me. Nobody would know more than myself if it was time to call it a day.
“We’re bringing in a dietician, we start with him next week. He will be keeping me on track and making sure the weight is coming down gradually and properly so I don’t see coming back down to lightweight as an issue.
“I have had some big nights in this division, I still have a few big nights left in me yet and I’m confident October 7 will be one.”
The Crolla fight has been on the cards for years but the Manchester ace insisted the pair are now at their peak.
He said: “Ricky and I sparred together years ago. The last time was either 2009 or 2010. We’ve done quite a few rounds together. Since then we’ve both improved as fighters and have a lot more experience.
“There was talk of us fighting in 2011 but it’ll be a better fight now. We’re both more hungry and better than we’ve ever been.
“I look at every fight as a must-win but certainly the winner of this one is almost guaranteed another world title shot. The loser has two choices – to retire or take that tough old road back to try to get to that level again. I’m confident of winning.”
For proud Mancunian Crolla it will be poignant to fight at the scene of the Ariana Grande concert terror attack in May.
He said: “It could be very emotional for some people. It could be their first night back in that arena since that horrible night. Every time I fight there it is special.“