Burnett vs Zhakiyanov: Ryan Burnett will prove his heart and desire, says Carl Frampton
Tuesday 17 October 2017 12:39, UK
Carl Frampton says Ryan Burnett has the heart and desire to bring him victory in his unification showdown against Zhanat Zhakiyanov.
Live Fight Night
Burnett, 25, makes the first defence of his IBF bantamweight belt against WBA 'Super' title holder Zhakiyanov, 'ZZ', at The SSE Arena this Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.
Frampton, a two-weight world champion, does concede that it will be an extremely testing night for the fellow Belfast star but 'The Jackal' believes Burnett has the heart and determination to get him over the line.
"This is a fight that you are going to learn a lot more about Ryan Burnett," Frampton told Sky Sports.
Zhakiyanov has so much determination and if this fight reaches its second half then it's going to be a very difficult night
"It's a very tough ask for him in his first defence but I think he's going to prove to people that are backing him right that he has a very big heart.
"I know Ryan pretty well and we used to train together as kids - I rate him highly.
"He's a very good fighter and he has a good team around him with Adam Booth and Eddie Hearn. It's great that Eddie is starting to bring him back to Belfast.
"Zhakiyanov though has so much determination and if this fight reaches its second half then it's going to be a very difficult night."
The Kazakhstani bantamweight, 33, rallied to defeat Rau-shee Warren last time out, despite being dropped twice in the first round, as he laid claim to the WBA 'Super' title.
With just one blemish on his 28-fight record, an early career defeat in Russia, 'ZZ' will certainly be Burnett's toughest test to date.
"I see this as being a fight of two halves. Zhakiyanov is slow and predictable in the early parts of a fight, but he's got so much determination and will to come on strong.
"It's going to be a similar fight to 'ZZ' against Warren. He's going to be piling on the pressure in the last few rounds and although Warren is a world class fighter, Zhakiyanov went away from home and beat him, and took the title off him - It was a great win.
"I think that is the best win between the two lads, either Zhakiyanov or Burnett.
"Burnett hasn't fought anyone like that, but 'ZZ' has fought someone like Burnett in Warren, which could be a factor.
"I still fancy Burnett though. I think it's going to be a complete fight of two halves, but I think he takes it on points, a tight points decision as well."
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.
