Interim WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns is targeting Kevin Mitchell for a summertime all-British encounter in Scotland.
Intermin WBO champion wants British showdown in Scotland
Interim WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns is targeting Kevin Mitchell for a summertime all-British encounter in Scotland.
The 28-year-old will face Namibia's Paulus Moses at the Braehead Arena on March 10 but is hoping his promoter Frank Warren will bring Mitchell north for a Scotland against England encounter after that.
Coatbridge-based Burns is hoping that fans will fill the arena on the outskirts of Glasgow for his fight against Moses to encourage a bout above the border.
Mitchell has only lost one fight in 33 and that was against Michael Katsidis in London two years ago, an opponent who Burns beat in November last year to take the title, but the Scot realises he has to win his first fight before he can take on Mitchell.
"Obviously I have to get past Paulus Moses first or that (Mitchell) fight is not going to happen," he said.
"I know Kevin is fighting in February and as long as the two of us come through then we can sit down and talk about it. Both of us are promoted by Frank Warren so it is an easy fight for us to make.
Mitchell
"I would say the two of us are the best lightweights in Britain just now so it is a fight that I would really want.
"When I beat Michael Katsidis he (Mitchell) was saying he would love the chance to fight me. They are talking about the venue being down in London or up here. I was on the same bill when Michael Katsidis beat him down at West Ham's football ground.
"I know that was the venue that was mentioned if I was to fight him in the summer. I would prefer it to be up here.
"Hopefully we can show them that we can get Braehead sold out and get the fans behind me."
Burns has one more week before he has to sacrifice regular living to make sure he is within the nine stone nine pound limit for the fight.
"The hard dieting will start next week," he added. "At the moment I have a wee bit of leeway and if I want something I can have it. But I start pushing it seven weeks before the fight.
"I started training just after the New Year so we are in full training, two and three times a day.
"But the countdown is on to the weigh-in and then it's time to get on with the job. Making nine stone nine is a lot easier than having to boil down to nine stone four."
Countdown
Burns does not plan on analysing any footage of Moses ahead of the fight, confident that his challenger should be the one fearful going into the bout.
"I can only go with his record which makes him dangerous," he said. "One loss in 29 fights and 19 knockouts, that shows he is a big puncher.
"But I have always said whatever happens on the night is going to happen. I can adapt to people's styles so I'm sure when I get in the ring, I will know what to do to win.
"If I get the chance to knock him out I will do it."
Despite Burns not showing interest in videos of his opponent, his coach Billy Nelson has taken plenty of time to make sure he knows what the Scottish fighter can expect.
"I have been studying DVDs every night and Moses is a very good fighter," Nelson said.
"He has a different style to Katsidis but world class fighters have the ability to adapt to different styles. I expect Ricky to stop this guy.
"Once that fight is done, there is the blockbuster with Kevin Mitchell and then he will get it as well."
