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Ricky Burns is a world champion again and wants 'big fights'

Ricky Burns has 'big fights' on his mind now

Ricky Burns is Scotland's first ever three-weight world champion, but who will he face now he's back in the big time?

The 'Rickster' (40-5-1-KO13) was far too classy for Michele di Rocco in Glasgow and cruised to a systematic ninth-round stoppage of the Italian - clinching the vacant WBA world super-lightweight title and a place in boxing history in the process.

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Watch the moment Ricky Burns beats Michele Di Rocco

Burns claimed in the post-fight interview that he can still make the lightweight limit "if needs be" so with a host of champions and former champions across the two weight divisions as possible targets, who will the Coatbridge fighter train his sights on first?

Let's take a look...

Adrien Broner (32-2-KO24)

Adrien Broner
Image: Adrien Broner was stripped of the title Burns won

When Burns was asked for his next move in the immediate aftermath of the Di Rocco clash, promoter Eddie Hearn whispered something about Broner. The reason Burns was able to fight for the title in this first place, of course, was it being stripped from the brash American as a result of him failing to make weight for a defence against Ashley Theophane.

'The Problem' probably wants his jewellery back and it's certainly a fight that could make sense financially. The idea of thousands of well-lubricated Scots 'welcoming' Broner into an arena is an amusing one but in reality, a fight between the pair would be more likely to take place in the States. Broner is down at the moment, but not far enough down to need to stray from the bright lights in the US for his pay days.

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Ricky Burns' post-fight interview

What would be most intriguing about Burns v Broner would be the polarity of their characters. Fighters as humble and well-meaning as Burns are few and far between, while many believe Broner has set new records in the fields of arrogance and self-obsession. You'd have to go pretty far to fathom a clearer-cut good guy versus bad guy boxing bout.

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Kiryl Relikh (21-0-KO19)

Kiryl Relikh (L) is promoted by former world champion Ricky Hatton
Image: Kiryl Relikh (L) is promoted by former world champion Ricky Hatton

Relikh's promoter, Ricky Hatton, actually wanted him to fight Di Rocco for the vacant crown in the first place and based on the performance of the Italian, he'd probably be champion now if he had. The 26-year-old Belarussian is a pretty petrifying prospect on paper; he's stopped 19 of his 21 professional victims and may be the division's most underrated fighter.

Hatton also said ahead of Burns' victory: "We're entitled to take the winner of Burns and Di Rocco within ninety days of their contest and we'll be ready for either of them." Not much in boxing is set in stone but what is for certain is that the Mancunian legend will do all he can to push the WBA into ordering Burns to face his man. 

Relikh has fought in Britain three times already and was most recently in action at Bolton's Macron Stadium when he retired Brazil's Joaquim Carneiro (23-8-KO21) in four. In fact, Relikh hasn't been taken past the fifth round in almost four years. He looks a serious puncher and Burns' team may be in no hurry to make him the first challenge.

Terence Crawford (28-0-KO20)

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MARCH 1 :  Terence Crawford celebrates his victory over Rick Burns during the WBO World Lightweight Championship Boxing match at the Gl
Image: Terence Crawford is the leading light of the division

Admittedly, Crawford has to overcome WBC world champion Viktor Postol on July 23 if he wants to keep hold of his WBO strap but regardless, 'Bud' is the biggest name in the division and schooled Burns in March 2014 for the WBO lightweight crown. Will revenge play a role in Burns' thinking?

At this stage, it's hard to see what could go differently in a Burns v Crawford rematch. At the age of 33, Burns is surely entering the twilight of his career (albeit a pretty and clement twilight) but now 28, Crawford has probably become even better than he was when he beat Burns in Glasgow.

Crawford won a points decision over Burns
Image: Crawford won a points decision over Burns

Burns will fight anyone and probably wants to prove that he can beat the Nebraskan. How accurate he is in that belief can only be truly proved one way, but Crawford appears to be one of the leading pound-for-pound fighters walking the planet today without boasting the 'draw' to make the boxing risk worthwhile financially.

Dejan Zlaticanin (21-0-KO14)

Image: Dejan Zlaticanin shocked Burns in Glasgow but has fought only twice since

Another revenge mission. Zlaticanin silenced Glasgow in June 2014 when he sent Burns to the canvas in the very first round and went on to secure a split decision victory. He's fought only twice since but was impressive in blasting aside the previously-unbeaten Ivan Redkach on the undercard of Deontay Wilder's first world title defence.

If America liked what it saw on the Montenegrin's US debut, he can further cement his standing on June 11 when he faces tricky Italian Emiliano Marsili (32-0-1-KO14) for the interim WBC lightweight world title - live on Sky Sports 1 in the early hours of June 12. That would put him in pole position for the winner of Crawford v Postol but he remains an option to Burns.

Ricky Burns is knocked to the floor by Dejan Zlaticanin during the vacant WBC International lightweight title at the Braehead Arena, Glasgow.
Image: Ricky Burns was knocked to the floor by Zlaticanin

Zlaticanin doesn't possess the same technical prowess as Crawford but Burns struggled against his short-punching style. Of the two rematches on the table, victory over Zlaticanin is easier to imagine than over Crawford but the disparity in risk is probably going to be reflected in the reimbursement package. With Anthony Crolla in talks to face Jorge Linares and Terry Flanagan set to name an opponent for July,  Zlaticanin could be Burns' most likely lightweight destination.

Ruslan Provodnikov (25-4-KO18)

Image: Ruslan Provodnikov is a fans' favourite in America

On the same bill as Zlaticanin, crowd favourite Provodnikov attempts take a step back towards world title level when he faces Californian John Molina Jr (28-6-KO23).

Hailing from a small village in western Siberia, Provodnikov won 130 of 150 amateur fights before being discovered by American promoters and whisked away. Now 32, he held the WBO world super-lightweight title before losing a controversial split decision to Chris Algieri two years ago. He's since lost another tight decision to Lucas Matthysse before getting back on track by taking Jesus Alvarez Rodriguez's unbeaten record via fourth-round stoppage in November 2015.

Fighting over in the States for the majority of his career, Provodnikov has developed a substantial following and is a 'name.' Having been involved in so many wars (still avoiding ever being stopped as a pro), what Provodnikov has left remains to be seen as does his increasing tendency to fight at welterweight. If he halts Molina Jr, he may be Burns' most lucrative option behind Broner.

Watch Provodnikov and Zlaticanin - plus Demetrius Andrade - in action on June 12, live on Sky Sports 1 from 2am.

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