Written by Chris Jessup
Newly crowned WBO interim lightweight champion Ricky Burns is man in high demand. The Coatbridge fighter’s stock soared this weekend when he put in a commanding performance to beat the “Brit Basher” Michael Katsidis in a unanimous 12-round decision in front of a packed out Wembley Arena in London.
It was Burns’ first outing at lightweight and the added weight seemed to have had no ill effect on Frank Warren’s charge as the speed, fitness and work rate were there for all to see against one of boxing’s premier pressure fighters.
Photo: John Gichigi/Getty Images
A rematch with fellow Scot Alex Arthur has been gaining speed but this has been ruled out as Arthur intends to move up to light welterweight as it is now a struggle to make the weight.
“I just want to state that I would love to fight Ricky for the interim title but I am no longer capable of safely making lightweight,” said the Edinburgh man in a recent interview.
One man desperate for a shot at Burns, however, is Kevin Mitchell. The West Ham fan is desperate for a huge domestic clash now that ‘Rickster’ is campaigning in his division.
Mitchell said recently on the social media website Twitter, “I think myself vs. Ricky Burns is an obvious choice and needs to happen ASAP.”
The Londoner has urged promoter Frank Warren, who also promotes Burns, to organise the fight which would pit the best from England against the best from Scotland.
Mitchell, who returned from a 14-month layoff earlier this year to stop the previously unbeaten European champion John Murray in classy fashion, would be sure to provide a stern test for the much improved Burns.
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