Warren backs Burns to take WBO title from Martinez in Glasgow

STV

World championship boxing returns to Glasgow on September 4 when Scotland’s own Ricky Burns challenges Roman Martinez for his WBO super featherweight title at the city’s Kelvin Hall. Promoter Frank Warren, who has spent months setting up the fight, believes Burns has the ability to emerge with the strap and join the list of Scottish world champions.

Burns, the reigning Commonwealth champion, no doubt faces the toughest fight of his career when he steps into the ring against the unbeaten Puerto Rican who has 15 knockouts from 26 fights, with one draw.

However, Warren believes the Coatbridge fighter can emerge victorious if he sticks to the game-plan on the night against the heavy-hitting reigning champion.

“I think he has got the ability to do it and it’s just on the night [Burns] being focussed, keeping his discipline and he can win the fight,” he said.

“One thing this guy does, if he hits [Burns] on the chin he can knock him out; he’s a big, big puncher. We saw that with Nicky Cook last year. Cook was winning the fight and got very careless and paid the price.

“This guy, if he can sense that you switch off, he can clip you and it’s all over. So [Burns] has got be really spot-on on the night and go out and keep to his boxing and he can win the title.”

RICKY BURNS WORLD TITLE CHALLENGE:

Warren believes that Burns could also turn the table on Martinez and stop the 27-year-old to take the title once held by Edinburgh’s Alex Arthur.

“I think what Ricky has got to do is that he can’t get careless. He’s got to maintain his focus and discipline for 12 solid rounds. He’s got to prepare, which he will do, for 12 rounds but mentally he’s got to stay there for all this time. He cannot afford to let this guy see an opening,” he said.

“It could be the other way around. I know he’s not stopped a lot of people Ricky, but this guy can go over, if [Burns] can catch him right then he goes.”

Burns will have the home advantage and Kelvin Hall is expected to be packed full of his supporters which will give the boxer added motivation to dig deep, especially if the fight goes into the later rounds.

Warren added: “All in all he’s got home advantage, if the crowds come out for him, which I’m sure they will do, then hopefully he’ll come back with the prize.

“He would become world champion, Scotland’s only world champion at the moment, that’s a big achievement and hopefully bring some bigger fights for him. But he’s got to win it first.”