Burns targets Battle of Britain bout with Kevin Mitchell

By Kenny McKay
Burns: The fighter is targeting an all British encounter with Kevin Mitchell© STV

Ricky Burns has set his sights on a Battle of Britain encounter against Kevin Mitchell should he overcome his latest tile challenger.

Speaking at his press conference, the Coatbridge boxer says he would relish the chance to fight the Londoner in a classic Scotland vs England encounter and the Coatbridge boxer says Glasgow would be the ideal venue.  

Mitchell's only defeat in 33 fights to date was to Michael Katsidis, a fighter whom Burns beat at Wembley Arena in November last year to claim his second world title. 

But first Burns must overcome Nambia's Paulus Moses in the first defence of his WBO lightweight crown.

Burns said that he ready to step up his preparation in the gym ahead of the bout at the Braehead Arena on March 10.

He said: "The hard dieting will start next week.

"At the moment I have a wee bit of leeway and if I want something I can have it. But I start pushing it seven weeks before the fight. I started training just after the New Year so we are in full training, two and three times a day, but the countdown is on to the weigh-in and then it's time to get on with the job.

"No matter what weight you have to make it is always hard. But again, making nine stone nine is a lot easier than having to boil down to nine stone four. I am much happier now that I have moved up a weight."

Burns admitted that while he was looking forward to fighting Moses, he is hoping that a sell-out Glasgow crowd will help persuade promoter Frank Warren to bring Essex-boy Mitchell to Scotland for a top of the bill bout. 

The 28-year-old says a fight against Mitchell would be a battle between the "best two lightweights in Britain."

He added: "I know Kevin is fighting in February and as long as the two of us come through then we can sit down and talk about it. Both of us are promoted by Frank Warren so it is an easy fight for us to make. I would say the two of us are the best lightweights in Britain just now so it is a fight that I would really want. When I beat Michael Katsidis he (Mitchell) was saying he would love the chance to fight me. They are talking about the venue being down in London or up here.

"I was on the same bill when Michael Katsidis beat him down at West Ham's football ground and I know that was the venue that was mentioned if I was to fight him in the summer but I would prefer it to be up here. 

"Hopefully we can show them that we can get Braehead sold out and get the fans behind me. But for now, I just need to concentrate on my next fight."

And while Burns is confident of overcoming Moses to set up the all British fight, his trainer Billy Nelson believes the world champion is good enough to stop anyone who stands in front of him.

He said: "I have been studying DVDs every night and Moses is a very good fighter. "He has a different style to Katsidis but world class fighters have the ability to adapt to different styles.

"I expect Ricky to stop this guy. Once that fight is done, there is the blockbuster with Kevin Mitchell and then he will get it as well."

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