Resilient Ricky will have to wait for Vegas payday
THERE have been times in the past when some have questioned Ricky Burns’ ability.
But his courage and work-rate have never been in doubt.
Ultimately, that was what hauled the 33-year-old over the line and allowed him to retain his WBA light-welterweight belt against teaktough Kyril Relkh from Belarus on Friday evening.
Relikh pushed the Coatbridge man to the limit, making a mockery of the judges’ score cards and, particularly, the verdict of Raul Cova, who had Burns eight rounds ahead.
Burns, who ground out a draw against Raymundo Beltran after boxing for 10 rounds with a broken jaw in 2013, continued against Relikh in spite of suffering a perforated eardrum in the second round.
That injury will postpone a defence against former champion Adrien Broner, which had been scheduled for December. But he should still receive a £1m windfall for facing the controversial American in Las Vegas early next year.
“In my eyes, it’ll just be another fight but obviously it’ll be something I can tick off my bucket list,” said Burns.
“However, I don’t think it’ll be until I’ve retired that I’ll be able to look back on my career and think: ‘Do you know what? I’ve done all right’.”
Broner had spoken about attending the fight on Friday but stayed at home.
“I’m glad Ricky took this fight because you can’t always rely on Broner,” said Burns’ promoter, Eddie Hearn.
“He was supposed to be here then I saw last night on social media that he was in some nightclub.
“At this stage of Ricky’s career you don’t want to be derailed. I think Broner is great for Ricky, he deserves that big fight in America and I think he wins it as well.
“There are a few things to tinker with on the deal, mainly that we want more money. That is the important thing and I think that’s what should happen next.
“I’m very confident of getting Broner but there might be another fight that comes up. Ricky is in a great position – if he was a challenger we’d be scratching around looking to fight champions. Now the others can come and get the belt but, if they want a shot, they have to pay for it, especially at this stage of his career.
“Who knows how many fights he’s got left? He’s like Benjamin Button.”