RICKY BURNS, the World Boxing Organization lightweight champion from Coatbridge, will defend his title at Glasgow's SSE Hydro Arena on February 8.
Eddie Hearn, the Scot's promoter, has booked the 12,000-capacity venue following the collapse of former world champion David Haye's bout with Tyson Fury, scheduled for the same date.
But Burns is extremely unlikely to face Raymundo Beltran after Hearn revealed that Top Rank, who promote both the Mexican and mandatory WBO challenger Terence Crawford, are opposed to a rematch. Beltran was furious when their previous meeting, in Glasgow last September, was declared a draw despite Burns struggling for 10 rounds with a broken jaw.
Hearn said: "When the Haye-Fury fight fell through, February 8 became a free Sky date and we contacted a number of venues in Glasgow to determine their availability. Apart from Braehead Arena, the only other venue free is the Hydro and we have booked that because we want to be the first to stage major boxing there.
"As things stand, that is the only detail in tablets of stone. We want to promote a rematch with Beltran and he also wants the fight, but Top Rank would have to agree to Crawford stepping aside. However, they have made it very clear they want Ricky to fight Crawford, so I think that is extremely unlikely.
"So we are looking at a possible unification fight or a mandatory defence against Crawford. If it's Crawford, the split is 75-25 in favour of the champion and I am very confident that I could bring him to Scotland.
"We are not looking to going to America to fight Crawford as it would take an incredible offer for that to happen. However, if they want to make Ricky a seven-figure offer to fight in the States, he will willingly go to Madison Square Garden to defend his title."
Hearn was ordered by the WBO to begin negotiations with Crawford earlier this month and was given 30 days from November 1 to contact the 26-year-old Omaha boxer's handlers.
But Hearn also revealed at the time that he had been in talks with IBF champion Miguel Vasquez and WBA title-holder Richar Abril concerning a possible unification bout.
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