Ricky Burns is aiming to get back to winning ways tonight following defeat to Carl Johanneson for the British super-featherweight title in February. Burns will top the bill on Braveheart Promotions’ first public show at the Linwood Sports Complex after local hero Kevin McIntyre was forced to pull out with shingles..
The bout against Stourport journeyman Ernie Smith will be Burns’ first under new trainer Billy Nelson and despite replacing McIntyre at short notice, the Coatbridge man has been training hard for the past four months, waiting for the opportunity to get his career kick-started again.
Burns said: “This chance has come at a good time. The last three fights I’ve been scheduled for have been cancelled, so I’m just happy to get back in the ring. I’m hoping to get a title shot before the end of the year.”
Burns, who is managed by Alex Morrison and promoted by Sports Network, made a name for himself when he caused a big upset in out pointing then British lightweight champion Graham Earl in 2005.
Although that contest was a short notice eight-rounder, Burns showed he belongs at championship level when he gave Alex Arthur a good argument before dropping a unanimous decision when challenging for the European, Commonwealth and British super-featherweight belts last year.
Nelson has noticed a big improvement in Burns over the past four months. Nelson said: “We watched a few videos of Ricky’s fights and came to the conclusion that there were a few things he had to work on, like working behind the jab and making sure he steps forward after hitting an opponent, instead of standing back and admiring it.
“I can assure you that Ricky is vastly improved. I reckon he has improved by 40%.”
Meanwhile, Paisley man McIntyre has revealed how disappointed he is to miss out on the chance to box in front of his fellow Buddies for the first time. He said: “It’s a shame, of all the shows to have something go wrong, it just had to happen before this one.
“I don’t think I would have been able to put on a very good performance because I wouldn’t have had any energy.”
However, McIntyre can now look forward to an eliminating contest for the British welterweight title with Mark Thompson on October 26. Heywood-based Thompson’s promoter Frank Maloney won the pure bid to stage the bout, which will take place at Wigan’s Robin Park Arena.
McIntyre-Thompson will be on the undercard of Jamie Moore’s British light-middleweight title defence against Andrew Facey, which will be screened live on Sky Sports.
McIntyre added: “Hopefully, my fight with Thompson will be on TV. It was too big a risk to carry on preparing for the Smith fight when I knew that I had an eliminator coming up against Thompson.
“I was feeling terrible while training and I started to fade, but I’m starting to get my strength back and I’ll resume training again next week.”