Burns backs Josh – and himself
Former three-weight world champion Ricky Burns is backing compatriot Josh Taylor to become a unified title-holder.
The undefeated Edinburgh ring star faces Regis Prograis at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday, bidding to add the American’s WBA super-lightweight title to his IBF crown.
Taylor’s 16th pro bout is certain to turn out to be his toughest yet, given that Prograis is also unbeaten, in 24 contests.
But ring veteran Burns, 36, said: “I believe Josh can do the business against Prograis. It will be a tough, but Josh has made tremendous strides.
“It would be some achievement to win a unification fight and the World Boxing Super Series.”
Burns is on the Taylor-prograis undercard in a non-title bout against former sparring partner Lee Selby.
There was talk previously of Taylor and Burns sharing a ring in a sell-out Scottish showdown, but Burns appeared to dismiss the prospect of that happening.
He said: “The last time I moved up to super-lightweight, I felt I was too small. I weighed in at 10 stone and I was maybe putting on 4lb, but the guys I was fighting were going up by more than 11lb.
“That meant I was giving them a huge physical advantage straight away.
“I beat Kiryl Relikh in a defence of the super-lightweight title and he ended up a world champion, but it was tough.
“It usually takes a few days before you feel sore after a fight. But it was the first time I went back to the changingroom straight afterwards and could barely move.
“That’s why I am much more comfortable at lightweight and I do believe I can fight at that level again.
“If you look at some of the guys
I’ve fought, a lot of them were world champions or became world champions.
“Lee Selby is a former world champion so he has my full attention, because he will be thinking exactly the same thing as me.”