RICKY BURNS would be interested in a lightweight World Boxing Super Series competition. The former world champion moved back down to 135lbs to box Anthony Crolla last October, losing a points decision in Manchester.
He is expected to make his next move soon, with a ‘run out’ type contest, possibly on the Tony Bellew-David Haye undercard in London on May 5. “He’s going to get an eight to 10 rounder, get him back out there,” his manager Charlie Sims told Boxing News.
They would like a rematch with Anthony Crolla. But Sims continued, “The Crolla fight unfortunately doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. But there is talk and rumours of a new WBSS coming out in the lightweight division. Now if that is something that happens then we are very interested in going in that. So I think right now for Ricky Burns, he’s got to be smart, be patient. He probably has only got a few fights left in him, so if the tournament does come around, I’d like to think that we could talk about him potentially being a seed in that tournament and going on to finishing his career on a high. They’ll be some good fighters in that tournament.”
If that format can attract fighters like Crolla, or Luke Campbell, or even Jorge Linares, it would be appealing for Burns. “There are big fighters going in and that’s where Ricky in my opinion needs to be because it would be a shame for him to end his career fighting somebody who’s maybe a prospect coming through,” Sims added.
That means moving up in weight once again to box fellow Scot Josh Taylor is unlikely. “I know he really wanted to fight Ricky at super-lightweight. It just didn’t make sense for Ricky to do that. He needs to go out on a high in a big fight,” his manager said.
“Everybody’s just going to sit tight and see what happens.”
For a host of special features, including an interview with Charlie Sims on his development as a boxing manager, don’t miss the latest issue of Boxing News magazine
