BURNS OPTS FOR CARDLE BOUT ON BELLEW BILL INSTEAD OF US PAYDAY

FORMER three-weight world champion Ricky Burns has ditched plans to fight in the States on November 17 in favour of a domestic contest at Manchester Arena on Saturday.

Coatbridge fighter Burns, 35, had been due to have only his second bout outside the UK on a Matchroom bill in Kansas.

But he will face Lytham’s Scott Cardle instead on the undercard of Tony Bellew’s undisputed world cruiserweight title clash with Oleksandr Uysk.

Burns, who made Scottish ring history in May 2016 when he defeated Michele Di Rocco to land the WBA super-lightweight title and complete his hat-trick, hopes it will lead to bigger things.

His reign ended when he lost a unification bout to Julius Indongo in April last year but he won his 50th fight in June, stopping Croat Ivan Njegac inside four rounds at Newcastle’s Metro Arena. Burns said: ‘There are some big fights to be made in the lightweight division and a win here will put me in the frame for next year.

‘I get on well with Scotty and his family and they have helped me out with some sparring down the years. But this is business.’

Cardle, 29, brother of former Dunfermline, Raith Rovers and Ross County winger Joe, had been due to face Joe Cordina but the Welshman pulled out. He added: ‘Ricky’s one of the toughest in the sport but I’m prepared to go the distance.’