IF proof were ever needed that Ricky Burns has blossomed into a world-class pugilist then it was supplied in abundance on Saturday night at the Braehead Arena.

In controlling dangerous Namibian Paulus Moses from the first bell to the last to claim a landslide unanimous points verdict by 119-110, 120-110, 117-111, Burns produced a consummate performance at both long range and close quarters that left the former world champion frustrated although never completely subdued.

This first defence of the Scot's newly claimed WBO lightweight title may have failed to provide the spellbinding drama evoked by Burns' victory over Roman Martinez in claiming the WBO super-featherweight title and announcing himself as an elite level fighter some 17 months back.

Yet it was all the more impressive for its clinical nature.

In short, Burns just did everything that bit better than his heavy-handed opponent, be it the spearing left jab he used to control range and tempo, the withering two- fisted body attacks he unleashed to weaken the marauding Namibian, or the sheer variety of a punching repertoire that has developed with each outing.

Before the fight, Frank Warren, Burns' promoter, had lauded his man as the most improved fighter in British boxing. Post fight Warren was keen to accentuate that accolade while indicating that the Scot's next outing will almost certainly be against London's Kevin Mitchell.

"I said before the fight that Ricky was the most improved fighter in Britain and now after it I would go so far as to suggest he may well be the best in the UK," said Warren.

"I think with Ricky there are just so many things that he does so well that people just don't appreciate.

"He can fight at range behind his superb jab and he can mix it inside. Moses was a dangerous opponent who was constantly looking to land the big right hand and I actually thought he got more dangerous as the fight wore on but Ricky controlled him.

"This was just a superb display of controlled boxing."

Turning his attention to the projected summer meeting with Mitchell, Warren has no doubt Burns holds all the aces.

"What we want is for Ricky to cement himself as WBO lightweight champion and provide the fights that excite the fans," he said.

"Kevin Mitchell would be a great domestic fight between two world-class lightweights. So what we have to do is make sure that financially it all stacks up. If it does that is great for everyone."

Warren will hold talks with Burns and his manager Alex Morrison later in the week but there is no doubt that the meeting with Mitchell is the fight both boxers crave.

There is plenty of history between the two, going back to the days when both were at super-featherweight and a projected meeting failed to materialise for one reason or another. Only last month Mitchell stated he would love to give the Scot a "hammering" – a comment Burns is well aware of.

With Saturday's success played out in front of a sell out crowd of 6000 it is also clear that Burns has now has a large support that will negate the need for Warren to relocate his fights to England as he did following the lukewarm response to the defeats of Andreas Evensen and Joseph Laryea just over a year ago.

For his part Burns, who sustained an injury to his left shoulder such was the ferocity of the Namibian's right hand, was pleased with his night's work.

"Moses could punch and he caught me on the shoulder on the same spot and in the last two rounds I could hardly lift my left arm," he said. "So I could see why he has stopped 19 opponents.

"He caught me with a few right hands and he could bomb but I got the job done.

"I am just happy to get the win and get a good 12 rounds in the bag. There are a few names out there and I will fight whoever Frank puts in front of me.

"I'd love a unification fight and a fight at Airdrie's football ground in the summer is something we could definitely do.

"Given that I'm from there I think it would be a sell-out. But I will sit down with Frank and Alex later in the week."

Without doubt Burns has matured into a seasoned world class operator with an ability to make the right move. The feeling persists then that these are halcyon days that should be savoured and further that the best may well still be to come.

Meanwhile, Paul Appleby, the former British featherweight champion, has admitted that his gutsy victory over Ireland's Stephen Ormond could have saved his career at title level.

The 24-year-old claimed the vacant Celtic super-featherweight championship with a unanimous points verdict from an enthralling contest, scored at 96-94, 96-94, 96-95, despite sustaining a nasty cut above his left eye that was inflicted by an Ormond head butt.

"I had to win that fight," said Appleby. "To lose it would have meant I had nowhere to go at title level and would have meant I had lost twice on the trot.

"I have not had a lot of luck with injuries and cuts but I got the job done."