Boxing: Lights, camera, action

It is the kind of thing we may see more of in the future, as new promoter Eddie Hearn attempts to boost his man's box office appeal by persuading him to shout louder and more frequently about his abilities in an attempt to increase his profile in the UK and the US.

But there will always be something homespun and authentic about the 30-year-old from Coatbridge, a very Scottish reluctance to shout his mouth off and a preference to do his talking with his fists. Most of his fans wouldn't have him any other way.

"I'm getting more used to the personality side of things," said Burns, his boyish face disguising his status as a veteran with a record of 35 wins from 37 fights. "It doesn't really bother me and I do what I need to do to promote the fight in the build-up. It goes with the territory but now I just want to get on with the fight."

Such appearances are now as much part of his working day as gruelling long distance runs and sparring sessions but there has also been a freshness about the Burns camp since the arrival of Hearn. His previous promoter, Frank Warren, might have hoped to spook his former charge with a £300,000 legal claim over his acrimonious move to the Matchroom stable, but Burns has plenty of folk to insulate him from such matters and is unconcerned about the fuss.

"We knew the court case was going to happen and both Alex [Morrison, his manager] and Eddie told me to put it to the back of my mind and not read anything about it or listen to what people were saying," Burns said. "They are both dealing with it and left me to concentrate on the fight. I've not even thought about it and I'm not bothered about it."

His thought processes are similarly unaffected by the imminent prospect of an addition to the family. His wife Amanda, who he married in Mexico last June, is pregnant with their first child. "Amanda is doing good, she is getting big now," said Burns. "It is August she is due so it is just around the corner but we have not even started decorating or anything like that yet, because the fight is getting closer. I am sure that after it is over we will be rushing around, trying to get everything sorted."

Billy Nelson, Burns' long-time trainer, senses that his man is in good fettle both physically and mentally, even if he hasn't fought since September due to the contractual turmoil and cancellations of his proposed bouts with Liam Walsh, Jose Ocampo and Miguel Vazquez at short notice.

"Ever since he joined Eddie Hearn his spirits have been up," said Nelson. "He's had some fantastic sparring and has done exceptionally well. He's looking really, really sharp and strong."

If Burns is happy to be out of the limelight, the imposing figure of Hearn is the opposite, the kind of consummate salesman and ambitious young thruster who makes the world of boxing go round. "I don't think it's just Ricky, it's boxing," said Hearn on the subject of the Scot's perception problem. "It was the same with [Carl] Froch. When we took on Froch he was fighting the best in the world and beating them yet his profile was down here. Now look where he is: over the last 18 months – on Sky, pay-per-view and a box office fighter. It takes time for that to happen, but having the right platform to grow is crucial and we'll see the same thing happen with Ricky.

"Ricky is exciting but also very likeable and down to earth. His one fault is that he doesn't know how good he is. He could be phenomenal."

Gonzalez is the WBO's mandatory challenger, and carries an undefeated record with him across the Atlantic, with 17 knock-outs in 22 outings. A year younger than Burns, the Puerto Rican is encouraged by the fact one of his countrymen, Roman Martinez, had the Scot on the canvas in the opening round of their encounter before Burns battled back to claim a unanimous points decision.

"Ricky is a 20% better boxer than when he beat Martinez in 2010 and the scary thing is that he hasn't peaked yet," said Nelson. "I think he'll stop him in the eighth or ninth round."

For all such confidence, Hearn feels it is the Puerto Rican and his entourage who are guilty of hubris. "Ricky should beat this guy but they are coming with a massive team and they think they're nailed on," the promoter said. "They think Gonzalez punches too hard, he's too fresh and too young. Some fighters come and say they think they'll win but deep down they don't believe it. But Gonzalez hasn't lost and he doesn't think he can be beat. He thinks he's invincible. He thinks he can do to Ricky what he's done to others. But he'll realise after a couple of rounds that he can't do that to Burns. He'll want to make it a war and he's coming thinking he'll win. Personally, I think he'll get knocked out."

Burns is still eyeing the prospect of a unification fight against WBC champion Adrien Broner, possibly in the US, but it is one fight at a time for the Scot and while his preparation for Saturday night has followed an identical formula, one new factor will be the venue. He is sure to be treated like a prince at the state-of-the art Emirates Arena, where 7000 seats have been sold for the fight and its undercard which features Greenock's John Simpson taking on Choi Tseveenpurev of Mongolia for the vacant WBO Intercontinental title.

"The Emirates is a cracking venue," Burns said. "They've shown me around it a few times and, the way it's set up, there isn't a bad seat in the house so the fans will be in for a good night of boxing. It's always good to have home advantage and I enjoy fighting in Glasgow but a boxing ring is a boxing ring and I'd be looking to get the job done wherever it was."

Uncharted territory or not, the Scot will be back in his natural habitat come Saturday night.