Anthony Crolla says he has learned "valuable lessons" from his defeats to Jorge Linares
Thursday 5 October 2017 09:08, UK
Ricky Burns says he still has the hunger to win world titles ahead of his crucial British lightweight battle against Anthony Crolla on Saturday.
Burns, a former three-weight world champion, takes on Crolla in Manchester, live on Sky Sports, with both looking to bounce back from world title defeats.
The 34-year-old suffered a points defeat to Julius Indongo in April to lose his WBA super-lightweight belt, while Crolla's previous two encounters ended in defeats to Jorge Linares.
"Am I still hungry? I wouldn't have been down in Essex for 12 weeks at a time preparing for a fight if I didn't still enjoy it and if I didn't want to do it," Burns said.
"I'm good to go.
"We moved up for the last few fights but we never got offered the opportunity to fight at the world title. Who knows? I could probably have still been fighting at lightweight now.
"I've proved to myself how easy I can do lightweight when I put my mind to it. All the hard work is done in my eyes."
While a win for the Scot would bring the potential of another shot at a world title, the future of whoever loses the fight will be shrouded in uncertainty.
"I've been trying to block all that out of my mind," Burns added. "I've treated this the same as any other fight.
"I'm just counting down the days to get on the scales on Friday and then, obviously, the good bit on the Saturday night. I just can't wait to get in there."
Manchester-born Crolla insists he has learned from the defeats to Linares and believes the experience has made him a better fighter.
"I've spent 24 hours with a quality, quality fighter and I believe in those losses I have learnt valuable lessons, and it's up to me on Saturday night to show that," the 30-year-old said.
"I just think, when you are sharing the ring with that kind of company... I think it can only help me.
"Everybody who knows boxing knows this is a proper fight and I don't see how it can be a bad one."
Watch Anthony Crolla vs Ricky Burns, with Sam Eggington and Conor Benn on the undercard, at the Manchester Arena on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Action from 7pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 10pm.
