This Saturday in Hull, Scotland’s former 2 weight world champion Ricky Burns returns to the ring, fighting back down at 135 lbs against Ghana’s Prince Ofotsu following May’s awful Stateside loss to Omar Figueroa in which Burn’s was fighting not only his opponent but the referee, and was extremely hard done by given that history will record the fight as a wide points loss, thus not acknowledging the hard shift the Coatbridge man put in.
While Ofutsu (15-4, 11kos) – a fighter who hasn’t boxed outside his native Ghana – will present nothing but a routine piece of business for Burns on Saturday, the focus is surely on the bigger picture, and with a burgeoning lightweight scene in the UK that includes the likes of WBO champ Terry Flanagan, Anthony Crolla and former foe and current sparring partner Kevin Mitchell, Burns is keen to get right back in the mix and prove that he isn’t done yet.
“There are so many big fights at lightweight not only in the UK but on the world scene and I can’t wait to get involved in the thick of it,” he said to Sky Sports.
“It was frustrating before to hear people say that I was being sent out to America to just be an opponent for Figueroa, I proved them wrong.
“I will fight anybody, that’s the only way you get the big fights. We aren’t looking at a particular route or governing body – whatever comes our way, we will be ready.”
Sadly for promoter Eddie Hearn, a big fight between Burns and Manchester’s Crolla may have to wait after “Million Dollar’s” recent WBA heartbreak in his challenge to champion Darleys Perez. After horrendous scoring ruined the Brit’s chances, he awaits a rematch and a shot at the title many believe is rightly his.
“I was gutted for Anthony in Manchester,” said Burns. “He should have been given the nod but it was a close fight. With Darleys Perez getting the two-point deduction – I can’t get my head round how they gave it a draw.”
Twitter @Undilutedpoison
