Burns – I can still get better
Ricky Burns believes he can continue to show improvement as he prepares for his seventh world title fight.
The 29-year-old stunned the boxing world when he beat Roman Martinez to claim the WBO super-featherweight title two years ago. And Burns showed again he saves his best performances for the biggest stage when he comprehensively outfought Michael Katsidis to claim the WBO lightweight title at Wembley last year.
The Coatbridge fighter faces another serious test on Saturday night against Kevin Mitchell, whose only defeat came against Katsidis in 2010. Burns believes is a more confident boxer now and thinks he will rise to the occasion again. The Scot said: “I’ve always said, the better the opponent in front of me, the better I’m going to perform.”
He added: “I think Saturday is another one of those occasions. I think people are going to see improvements on my last fight. The last few fights I have been getting better and better so hopefully I can go out there and do the business.
“I have just been getting a lot more confident and a lot more physically stronger as well. I couldn’t be happier with the way preparation went. We started sparring right at the start so I’m ready to go for a hard 12 rounds.”
Although there are some tickets left, Burns is set to fight in front of almost 10,000 fans in Glasgow, most of whom will be in his corner. But he prefers to shun the limelight and sees no added pressure in pleasing his home crowd.
“It is getting easier to deal with, but me being me, it just doesn’t bother me,” he said.
“I try not to let the occasion get to me. I’m basically just going out there to do my job.
“I am 100% ready for it, whatever happens on the night I am going to be ready to deal with it.
“I’m playing the waiting game now, I just want to go in there and get on with it.”
Press Association