RICKY BURNS' dream of fighting in Las Vegas is still very much alive but it now seems likely that the Scot's hopes of meeting IBF super-featherweight champion Rances Barthelemy will be strangled by red-tape.
The two-weight world champion's manager Alex Morrison has confirmed that a slot on the undercard of the projected Carl Froch versus Julio Cesar Chavez super-fight penciled in for the MGM Grand Garden Arena, on March 28, in the American fight capital, is still the preferred venue for the 31 year-old's next fight.
However, the possibility of Burns landing a bout with Barthelemy have all but been ended after International Boxing Federation Chairman Lindsey Tucker confirmed that Barthelemy is due to defend his 130lbs title against mandatory challenger Jose Pedraza and would need to apply for special dispensation to seal any forthcoming encounter with Burns.
While Vegas still remains the favoured venue for Burns' 43rd outing as a professional manager Alex Morrison says he has every belief his charge can regain former glories.
"Ricky is still very hungry and that is why he was away from his family in camp in Portugal before Christmas and why he headed south on Sunday to start full training with Tony Sims," said Morrison.
He continued: "The big thing for Ricky, that can make a lot of difference, is the level of experience he now has. The hunger and drive are still very much there but he now has all these world title fights to draw upon.
"2014 is gone now and we know it was a tough year for Ricky but it is all about looking forward and we hope to have something to announce soon. But we are fairly well down the road with the next fight."
The absence of Burns' promoter Eddie Hearn on his annual holiday in Mauritius has also held up progress with Hearn unable to be reached for comment on the sunshine isle.
It is understood that a Glasgow outing remains a fall-back position, later in the spring if the Froch v Chavez card fails to materialise but there is no doubt that the opportunity to help Burns achieve his lifelong ambition of boxing in the global fight capital, while at the same time landing him a bout against a named US based opponent with the type of profile that would give Burns the opportunity to catapult himself back to emeritus level, remains the preferred option for the former WBO super-featherweight and lightweight champion.
Yet now it seems that opponent will not be Barthelemy, after IBF chairman Tucker confirmed the American-based Cuban would need special dispensation to get out of a mandatory defence of his 130lbs title.
Tucker told the World Boxing News website: "We are due to notify IBF Junior Lightweight (super-featherweight) Champion Rances Barthelemy on February 10, 2015 to start negotiations with mandatory challenger Jose Pedraza.
"If Barthelemy wants to fight anyone else he must request an exception to the regulations. If the board grants the exception, then he can fight someone else that is approved by the IBF."
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