On reflection ... I think I’ll fight on
RICKY BURNS has revealed for the first time how he was in so much pain that he considered quitting boxing in the days after Raymundo Beltran broke his jaw. And although the WBO lightweight champion is now expected to make a full recovery from the injury that threatened to end his career, he admitted a nagging doubt remains at the back of his mind as to whether he has suffered any lasting damage. According to his surgeon, the Scot has no obvious cause for concern after recent X-rays confirmed the bone has knitted neatly back into place. Anticipating his return to physical contact, however, the 30-year-old from Coatbridge said: ‘I am going to get hit again and I won’t know for certain what effect that will have until it happens. ‘But I’ll have another X-ray before I start sparring to put my mind at ease.’ Recalling the immediate and painful aftermath of last month’s fight with Mexican Beltran, during which Burns survived 10 agonising rounds with the fracture before controversially retaining his title in a draw decision, he insisted he had seriously considered hanging up his gloves for good. ‘For a couple of days, I kept asking myself: “Am I going to be able to fight again?” ‘It was very much on my mind that fighting is my job and a broken jaw is the last thing a boxer wants. ‘I was also asking myself: “Can I put myself through that again?” The pain was excruciating and, looking back, I don’t know how I managed to get through it. ‘It was the longest fight of my life. I kept saying to myself just to take it one round at a time, but I remember seeing the ring girl’s card showing the