Ricky Burns wants to beat Nicky Cook "by any means necessary" but is confident he can retain his title in style.
WBO belt-holder says style should come second to substance
Ricky Burns is prepared to beat Nicky Cook "by any means necessary" on Saturday but is still confident he can retain his WBO super-featherweight title in style.
Burns' clash with Cook at Liverpool's Echo Arena is the third defence of the belt he won from Roman Martinez in September last year, but the Scot (31-2, 8 KOs) has yet to deliver a knockout as world champion.
This weekend's high-profile contest might appear the perfect opportunity to rectify that, but Burns says retaining his title is the bottom line.
"You find when you go out looking for a knockout it never happens, so my attitude is that I just want to get in there and win by any means necessary," Burns said.
"Whether you look good or you look bad, so long as you come out and you've got that belt coming home with you in the car, that is the main thing."
The 28-year-old is aware of the pitfalls of trying too hard to impress on the big stage, although he remains conscious of what an attention-grabbing display could do for his career.
"It is important, but I try not to look at it that way," Burns said.
"I knew when they said I was boxing in Liverpool that it was to try to raise my profile down south.
"Everybody in Scotland knows who I am but I am maybe not as well known in England.
"This is a chance for me now to get my name out there, but sometimes when you look about like that, you are putting pressure on yourself to go out there and look good, and sometimes it doesn't happen.
"If I go out there and just do what I have been doing in the gym, people are in for a good night's boxing."
Unhappy
It was reported earlier this week that Burns' manager Alex Morrison had made an official protest against the appointment of Englishman Terry O'Connor as one of the judges for the bout.
Morrison has been unhappy with O'Connor's decision making in the past, but Burns is not letting the matter trouble him.
"We got told the other day that it is three English judges and an English referee as well, but it is up to me to take it out of the referee's hands," Burns said.
"I think it will be a fair fight - a tough fight, but I do see myself wearing Nicky down in the later rounds."
The fight will be only the second for Cook (30-2, 16 KOs) since he lost the WBO belt to Martinez in March 2009.
The 31-year-old from Essex moved to Tenerife after the defeat and did not fight again until he secured a points win against Youssef Al Hamidi in May.
The major attraction on Saturday's undercard is the much-anticipated battle between John Murray and Kevin Mitchell, while Liverpool's Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Tony Bellew faces a rematch against Ovill McKenzie.
The vacant British belt is also at stake and Birmingham City fan Frankie Gavin defends his WBO Intercontinental welterweight crown against former Blues player Curtis Woodhouse.
