Burns keeps his eye on the prize
AFTER the tragic death of Mike Towell, boxing could do with some good news. Ricky Burns hopes to provide it. He will step into the ring on Friday knowing he is just 12 rounds away from being set up for life.
The 33-year-old from Coatbridge has a tough task against Kyril Relikh from Belarus, who has 19 of his 21 fights by KO, including each of the last six.
However, if he comes through his first defence of his WBO light-welterweight crown unscathed, Burns has been promised a £1m purse to put his belt on the line against former champion Adrian “The Problem” Broner in Las Vegas in December.
Broner will be at ringside at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow but Burns’ manager, Alex Morrison, knows his man won’t be distracted by the American’s presence.
“Ricky knows what’s at stake but realises he can’t afford to look past Relikh,” he said.
“He can’t start thinking about Broner because that fight won’t happen unless he takes care of business in this one.”
Morrison, though, admits leading Burns into the ring at Vegas would be the highlight of his 60-year career in the sport.
“There’s nothing like the experience of a big fight night in the US,” he claimed.
“Ricky’s been to Vegas a few times on holiday and he loves the place so to fight there would be a dream for him as well.
“It would also mean he wouldn’t have to worry about money for the rest of his days.”
Unfortunately, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Charlie Flynn has had to pull out of his slot on the undercard.
The 22-year-old lightweight, who has won all eight of his bouts in the paid ranks, suffered two broken ribs while sparring in London last week.