Boxing promoter Frank Warren says Ricky Burns has the potential to be one of Scotland’s greatest boxers ahead of the Coatbridge fighter’s first defence of his WBO lightweight title.

Warren, who is known as one of the most recognised names in boxing promotion through his association with a string of top boxers including Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe and Amir Khan, believes boxing fans are in for a top fight.

Burns, who won the vacant lightweight belt by defeating Michael Katsidis in London last year, will go toe-to-toe with Namibian challenger Paulus Moses at the Braehead Arena on March 10.

Speaking at Burns’ press conference Warren described the Rickster as the most improved fighter in Great Britain bar none and compared him to Scottish boxing greats and world champions Jim Watt and Ken Buchanan.

He said: “I think he’s up there. I don’t want to be saying at this stage that he’s better than Jim [Watt] or Ken [Buchanan] but he's certianly on a par with them.

“Ricky is just a fabulous fighter. He’s not far off being on par with Ken or Jim and if he delivers another couple of quality performances against quality opposition, he may overtake them.

“Ricky isn’t a braggard, but he’s as good a fighter as anyone who’s came out of Scotland.

Despite Burns being a firm favourite with Scottish boxing fans, Warren believes the rest of Britain has to wake up to the Coatbridge fighter's talent. 

Warren believes that the whole of the UK should get behind Burns in the same manner as fellow Scot Andy Murray.

He added: “What people seem to forget is that when he fought Martinez, he was ranked number one super-featherweight in the world and Ricky done a job on him.

“He didn’t just win the fight, he out boxed him, out slugged him, out gritted him and he broke his heart.

“For me it was one of the best fights I’ve seen in many years but the in rest of Great Britain, Ricky didn’t get the publicity he should have which I thought was disgraceful.

“If we’ve got a tennis player who’s considered British when he’s winning then we’ve certainly got a great boxer in Ricky.”

Meanwhile, Burns revealed that he is looking forward to getting back in the gym.

The 28-year-old Coatbridge fighter says he cannot afford to take his first title defence lightly having seen little of his opponent.

He said: “I’ve not seen much of him but I can only go by his record (one loss in 29 fights and 19 knockouts). It’s going to be a tough fight but as I say, I’ve only had a quick glance at his record.

“But I can’t afford to take this fight lightly. I treat every fight the same and I treat all the fighters who are boxing me with respect. I’ll train for a hard fight and I’m sure he will tool and I think the Scottish public are going to be in for a cracking fight.

“My confidence has been getting better and my last fight was a big fight for me against Michael Katsidis. We’ve not changed anything in the gym, again its time to get the head down and go to work again - eight weeks on Saturday and counting.”