Friday 27 May 2016 11:53, UK
Ricky Burns is favourite to create history by beating Michele Di Rocco to win the vacant WBA world super-lightweight title. What do our experts think?
The likeable Scot can become a three-weight world champion with victory in front of his home fans in Glasgow - but Italy's Di Rocco has arrived with designs of his own.
Do The Panel foresee an easy night for 'Rickster' or will his bid for history come up short? He's looking to join Bob Fitzsimmons and Duke McKenzie as the only Britons to win world titles in three different divisions, of course...
Let's find out what those in the know think...
Ricky will definitely put it on Di Rocco and I think he'll just terrorise him straight away. I don't think he'll let Di Rocco have one second of a breather and we'll see Burns do what he does best and that's work at a crazy pace.
I think Di Rocco will be game and will force his way into the later rounds but if Burns doesn't get a late stoppage win then I think he'll win on points.
Ricky Burns is in a position to make history on Saturday and I don't think Michele Di Rocco is good enough to stop him from doing that, no matter how hard he tries or what kind of shape he's in. Burns went off the boil a little last year but has found his form again at the right time to become a three-weight world champion on Saturday.
I think Burns will produce a great moment in Glasgow and wear down Di Rocco systematically. It's Burns by late stoppage for me.
Burns has a great opportunity and it'll be fantastic if he does it. I saw Di Rocco at the press conference and he looks huge at the weight - I didn't quite know how he was going to make super-lightweight but credit to Matchroom for getting him that opportunity because destiny and history is calling for Burns.
It depends what Burns has left but if you can't get motivated to go out there and become a three-time world champion, there's something wrong. I think he'll have that mentality and I think Burns' hand will be raised with a points victory.
I like Ricky Burns. He's got the heart of a lion and is a tough kid. Since he lost his world title, I've seen him making a lot of errors in his boxing. I just hope he has corrected all of them because I do believe he's a very good fighter. He has been world champion and rightly so. He's a top kid, a very polite young man and a warrior in the ring.
If he has rectified those mistakes properly then he should win. It's a good sign that his opponent is from Italy because they haven't produced any great champions in recent years. I don't know much about Di Rocco but you'd have to say that Burns has a very good chance of winning it.
I've heard Michele Di Rocco can fight and it's not going to be an easy night for Burns. I think Burns could have one or two rocky moments but I believe the crowd are going to play a big part again. I think they'll pack out the arena and really support him. Ricky has an underrated jab and if he uses that, I fancy him.
Burns has a nice height advantage. He's comfortable defending on the ropes sometimes but I think he should establish the jab. I think Burns by unanimous decision but I think there'll be some difficult times for him in the fight.
I think Ricky Burns goes under the radar and I don't really know why. I think it's because he's quite a quiet and humble guy. He's never really caught the public's imagination and some of that is down to boxing in that peek-a-boo style. He's very upright and it's not a style attractive to some people because we're in a blood sport and people like to see fighters have a tear-up.
You can take nothing away from Burns. He's looking to make history here. Michele Di Rocco is good but very beatable, because he was lucky to beat Lenny Daws. It could be a late stoppage because Di Rocco gets loose late in fights but I'll go for Burns on points.
Our spars are always good. Ricky is looking good and he's looking fit. His weight is good because he's not fighting at lightweight anymore. Making weight for him for this fight is going to be so much easier. He's been looking so fit, strong and focused in the gym.
I've not seen the other guy box but on paper, he doesn't look like anything Ricky can't handle. Ricky's been in big fights in the past and I think he'll be too good here, so I'll go for Burns with a late stoppage.
Ricky has showed on several occasions that he's got a lot left but it's a lot to ask to become a three-weight world champion. He'd be right up there with the best Scotland has ever had to offer and I wish him well but it's a tough shout here.
It's been a long journey for Ricky and it's been hard. It's about what he's got left. He's shown plenty of fire in the gym and in recent fights. It's just a big step. What a credit he has been and I hope he can do it. I don't see him getting beaten up and I see Burns pushing hard until the bell and nicking a decision.
I definitely think it's within his grasp. Ricky has bags of experience and has changed his training team and he seems hungry for it again. Ricky is a nice guy and he'll have learned from his last couple of fights. Di Rocco is going into an intimidating back yard because it's really noisy up there in Scotland when Ricky fights.
It's a great chance for Ricky to win another world title and make history. I think Burns will win on points comfortably.
I can see Burns winning this fight and then moving on to fight Ashley Theophane, because Matchroom are doing a deal with The Money Team. That alliance could see Burns v Theophane happen. In terms of this fight, I think the best Burns beats the best Di Rocco and the worst Burns beats the worst Di Rocco. Whichever way you cut it, I'm going for Burns.
It's not going to be easy but I see Burns wearing him down and winning on points. Nobody trains as hard as Burns. He trains like a demon and that plus the edge of experience at world level will be enough to see him through and give him his world title.
Watch Burns v Di Rocco live on Sky Sports 1 from 6.30pm on Saturday. The following evening, Tony Bellew also bids for a world title against Ilunga Makabu - live from 8pm on the same channel.
