Craig McEwan has been spurred on in his world title bid after watching his friend Ricky Burns win the WBO super-featherweight title at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall. Burns became only the 13th Scot to ever win a world title with a gruelling victory over Puerto Rican Roman Martinez and McEwan is ready to be the next Scottish boxer to take the top prize in the sport.

The 28-year-old is unbeaten in 19 fights, 10 by knockout, and is determined to get his name in the history books along with the likes of Ken Buchanan, Jim Watt and Benny Lynch to name a few.

“Watching Ricky last weekend really gave me inspiration. He was a great inspiration to anybody. It’s gave me a little more drive to say, ‘Well if he’s the Scottish world champion now, then lets rack them up. Let’s bring another one home as well.’ It would be great,” said the Hollywood-based Edinburgh boxer.

McEwan and Burns have known each other since their amateur days when they were rivals fighting week-in week-out and while the Coatbridge boxer has done his former opponent proud, McEwan is ready to be next in line for that world title.

“I’ve known Ricky for years. I boxed him as an amateur. We used to box every week the two of us. I would win one week, he would win two weeks in a row then I would come back. But he stayed the same weight while we all started eating fish suppers and things, so we got a bit bigger,” he said.

“He stayed the same weight and all credit to him, he did us all proud and I just want to be up there next time.”

Burns’ performance to wrest the title from Martinez has been touted as fight of the year after such a ferocious display of grit and determination from the 27-year-old, who bounced back from a first round knockdown to win by a unanimous decision. McEwan feels the victory has cast a spot-light on Scottish boxing and hopes his American promoters Golden Boy can see the opportunity to stage a homecoming fight for their charge who has yet to appear in a British ring.

“I think it has opened up a lot of doors for us and a lot of opportunities,” said McEwan, who has fought every professional bout in North America.

“I think Ricky, with the division, has came around at the right time. So let’s attract big fights here in Scotland and hopefully if Golden Boy can see something for me as well to come over and box in Scotland it would be a big show and to fight for some kind of title would be incredible.”

He added: “All eyes are on Scotland at the moment so we have to keep the momentum going.”

Read Craig McEwan's STV blog where he talks about his journey from Wester Hailes to West Hollywood, Manny Pacquiao, Antonio Margarito, Floyd Mayweather and his own father.