Monday 16 October 2017 17:53, UK
Ryan Burnett has revealed that he had other options for his first IBF title defence, but wanted the ‘risk’ of a bantamweight unification clash with Zhanat Zhakiyanov.
The 25-year-old defends his IBF belt against WBA 'super' title holder Zhakiyanov in Belfast this Saturday night, live on Sky Sports, just a few months after he claimed the belt with a points win over Lee Haskins.
Burnett admits he could have chosen a different opponent after just making the step-up to world title level, but welcomed the chance to continue his rapid rise by facing the dangerous Kazakh.
I'm only 25, I've only had 17 fights and I'm going to unify the division against a great world champion. When I win that fight, it's just going to make it all the sweeter.
He told Sky Sports: "We had other options there, but if you take the risk, you'll get the bigger rewards and if you play it safe - it just doesn't feel as good.
"This fight is a risk. I'm only 25, I've only had 17 fights and I'm going to unify the division against a great world champion. When I win that fight, it's just going to make it all the sweeter."
Burnett can become the only champion in the division with two world titles as he attempts to dethrone Zhakiyanov, who ripped the WBA 'super' belt away from American Rau'shee Warren in February.
"I don't want to be just a world champion," said the Belfast man. "I want to become a great world champion and this fight opens up the doors for me to become a great world champion.
"To be honest, I wouldn't have my career go any other way."
Watch Ryan Burnett's unification clash with Zhanat Zhakiyanov, along with Paul Hyland Jr against Stephen Ormond, James Tennyson versus Darren Traynor, with Josh Kelly and Anthony Fowler also on the Belfast bill from 7.30pm this Saturday on Sky Sports Main Event.
