WHAT more is left to be said about Ricky Burns and his world title defence against the Puerto Rican Jose Gonzalez at Glasgow's Emirates Arena tonight?

Following a daily barrage of questions in the build-up to the fight, the Coatbridge boxer, his manager Alex Morrison and the promoter Eddie Hearn had exhausted every "line" by the time they arrived at the St Enoch Centre at lunchtime yesterday for the weigh-in, where both boxers scaled 9st 8lb 8oz.

But after a week of unrelenting publicity ahead of 30-year-old Burns' eighth world title contest, little had been heard from the man closest to the World Boxing Organisation lightweight champion, his trainer and confidante Billy Nelson.

Until yesterday, when Nelson emerged from the background to state he believes Burns will make Scottish ring history by unifying the lightweight division and going on to become a three-weight world champion.

Nelson, a portly figure with a deep-rooted passion for the sport he has embraced since his schooldays more than 30 years ago, believes most people do not realise just how good Burns is. "Ricky is top quality," he said. "Class opponents came up from England to spar with him and he gave them what for on a daily basis. It's frightening because Ricky has not yet peaked.

"He's a genuine world-class fighter and I think he'll unify all the lightweight titles before he moves up and wins at a third weight. Ricky has put on a bit of muscle, so boxing at light-welter wouldn't be a problem.

"When he was 9st 4lb and sparring with light-middleweights he was throwing them about and he dropped a couple as well. But that's the future and nothing will be achieved without winning on Saturday."

Gonzalez, 29, is undefeated in 22 fights and a noted puncher, having stopped 17 of his opponents compared to Burns' record of 35 wins, 10 inside the distance, and two defeats. But Gonzalez has never faced someone of Burns' size and power and boasting the ruthless determination that transforms him from nice guy to mean machine the moment he steps into the ring.

"This is the best Ricky has ever looked physically," Nelson said. "He's stronger and punching really fast and he wants to prove a point after the two fights that were cancelled.

"Ricky was disappointed over the postponements, in one instance at just three days' notice, and they affected us all because boxing is our livelihood. But the best place for Ricky was in the gym and he started back just after Christmas.

"After the Miguel Vazquez postponement he was back in the gym two weeks later because he had changed promoters, so that wasn't so bad.

"Gonzalez's record suggests that he can punch, but we don't want to find that out. However, Ricky has a fantastic defence and a solid chin. Look at his features. He's 30 with 37 fights behind him and there is hardly a mark on him. Ricky's defence is the key in this fight. His strength is also phenomenal for a boy of his weight.

"Although he was put down by Roman Martinez in the first round when he won the world super- featherweight title, the left hook in the seventh was harder and Ricky took it. So he's got a chin. But the secret is to minimise the big shots and we would rather he didn't take them although he has proved that he can.

"Touch wood, if we get through this fight I would imagine a unification bout will be next. We were promised one before and it didn't materialise but I believe Eddie Hearn will deliver."