Hatton making it hot for Burns
THREE-WEIGHT world champion Ricky Burns met ring legend Ricky Hatton as an equal yesterday when the duo got together in Glasgow to promote the Scot’s WBA super-lightweight title defence against Belarusian Kiryl Relikh on October 7.
But Burns revealed that there was a time not so long ago when he was starstruck at being in the same room as the ‘Hitman’.
Burns has come a long way since the time at DW Sports store in Glasgow when he was working as a part-time shop assistant while Hatton undertook a book-signing session.
But the mutual respect they have for each other was evident.
‘What Ricky has done for British boxing has been unbelievable,’ said 33-year-old Burns.
‘You name it, he has been there and done it, winning nearly every title at my current weight.’
Hatton was no less effusive in his praise of Burns, declaring: ‘For what he has done for Scottish boxing, I can’t speak highly enough of Ricky Burns.’
That said, the 37-year-old Mancunian, who both manages and trains 26-year-old Relikh, believes that the younger man has an excellent chance to end the Coatbridge boxer’s reign and deny Burns the opportunity of unlocking a huge fight in the United States.
He said: ‘Kiryl is the real deal. It’s youth versus experience. Kiryl hasn’t boxed the rounds Ricky has but the manner in which he has beaten fighters shows he is ready to step up a level.
‘He said to me: “No more journeymen”, so he feels it’s the right time and so do I. He has flattened pretty much the majority of people he has been in the ring with and he trains in my gym the same way I trained under Billy Graham. He is in the best shape.
‘Ricky has one of the best jabs you will probably see. The atmosphere and the passion from the Scottish fans will be special.
‘But Kiryl won’t be fazed by the hostile atmosphere. Mentalitywise, he has a real nasty streak about him and he has been wanting this for so long.’
For his part, Relikh said: ‘Lots will depend on what Ricky brings in the ring. I know he is a much more experienced fighter than me, but this is the right time for me.’
Burns conceded that he has a tough fight on his hands after studying footage of his opponent.
‘Over the few rounds that I have watched so far, Kiryl comes out looking for those big body shots,’ he said. ‘He’s a big puncher, with 19 knockouts.
‘Although the level of opposition hasn’t been good, he has still knocked them out and I have to respect that.
‘But I’ve been in with so many big punchers before, my confidence is good. Training has been going well, so I’m confident of getting the win.
‘This is a big step up for him, especially walking out in Glasgow at the SSE Hydro where the fans are good. I’m sure they’re going to make it nice and noisy for him.
‘It is okay Kiryl saying that he is going to handle it but we will see how he reacts when it’s just me, him and the referee in the ring. That is when it will sink in for him.
‘I have been boxing for about 20 years and I am going out there to do a job. I’ve still got the same hunger.’
The challenger boasts a perfect record of 21 wins, while the champion has suffered five losses in 46 contests.
But Burns, who made Scottish ring history in May when he stopped Italian Michele di Rocco to become the country’s first triple world champion, is adamant that it is not a case of if but rather when he successfully negotiates this mandatory defence of his crown.
He added: ‘Even before we decided to go down the route of this one, there was talk of other fights but they never happened for whatever reason.
‘But since we have arranged this, we have had offers, either later on in the year or the start of next year, so we know we have to get through this one.
‘What we have been doing in the gym and the tactics we have been working on, we are just going to take it a round at a time.
‘Although he is a big puncher and he has been knocking people down, I think my experience is going to be the big thing in this fight.’
“Ricky has one of the best jabs you will see”