Burns warns Martinez: You can't beat what you can't hit

STV

Ricky Burns faces the biggest fight of his career when he enters the ring against WBO super-featherweight champion Roman Martinez on Saturday at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall. Burns has the opportunity to become only the 13th Scottish world boxing champion and the Coatbridge fighter is confident his name will be added to the list.

He will be in for a hard night against the heavy-handed Puerto Rican, but the 27-year-old insists he has a plan and warned Martinez, “You can’t beat what you can’t hit.”

“I’m in the best condition of my life. I know Roman is a great fighter, he is a big puncher as well – 15 knockouts from 24 fights – so I have prepared for a hard 12 rounds.

“Everyone knows I can hit and move, but we’ve been working on a few tactics for this fight. I have been in with big punchers before so I don’t see that as being a problem.”

Burns, who watches Rocky IV as part of his pre-fight preparation, insisted he will be willing to go toe-to-toe but will be relying on his ability to hit and move to break down the champion.

“I always go for speed and skill and I think that is going to be key in this fight. You can’t beat what you can’t hit,” said a confident Burns, the reigning Commonwealth champion.

“There are going to be times when I will have to stand and trade my ground with Roman and I’m more than prepared to do that.”

As for home advantage Burns explained he was expecting to challenge for the title across the Atlantic before Frank Warren negotiated it for Glasgow, but he is relishing the chance to have the fans cheer him on to victory.

“Home support will be great, but originally the fight was supposed to be in Puerto Rico and I didn’t have a problem going over there. A boxing ring is a boxing ring, but you do have your home advantages in the run up to the fight and you’ve got your home crowd spurring you on throughout the fight, so really looking forward to it.”

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