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Burns wants reward for fans

Image: Ricky Burns: Will get huge support

Ricky Burns aims to make a successful defence of his WBO lightweight title against Paulus Moses on Saturday to reward his vast army of fans.

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Burns takes risk by not watching Namibian challenger Moses

Ricky Burns aims to make a successful defence of his WBO lightweight title against Paulus Moses on Saturday to reward his vast army of fans. Burns, 28, is grateful for the sold-out home support at Glasgow's Braehead Arena as he prepares to take on the Namibian challenger. "I would like to say a big thanks to everyone who is going," he said, before a media workout at trainer Billy Nelson's Fighting Scots gym in Mossend, Lanarkshire. "My phone has been going constantly with people asking for tickets. I was on the phone this morning to see if I could get any more, the demand has been unbelievable. "My last couple of fights have been away from home and I think because a lot of people missed out and because it is in Glasgow, the response has been great.

Confident

"There was only a couple of hundred tickets left the other day so it will definitely be a sell-out. "The way things are going for this fight - as long as I win - the next one is going to have to be at a bigger venue up here. "Once I step in that ring, I will need to try block the crowd out and get on with the job." Perhaps surprisingly, Burns has not watched the 33-year-old challenger - who has lost only once in 28 fights - either live or on television. However, the Coatbridge fighter is supremely confident of getting the win which will leave him free for a showdown with Londoner Kevin Mitchell in the summer. "I haven't watched him at all," said Burns. "We know he is a good boxer and has a big right hand, obviously, with 19 knockouts from 28 fights.

Waiting game

"He is also a former world champion who is not afraid to travel, he has fought in Japan and other places. "So it is going to be a cracking fight but we are prepared for whatever he brings. "Now it is about playing the waiting game. Once Friday (weigh-in) is over I can get on with it. "I have always said the better the guy in front of me, the better I will perform, so it is just down to me now to produce the goods again."