jim black
The Burns camp is divided over a suitable opponent for the 28-year-old Interim WBO lightweight champion when he returns to the ring early in the New Year.
His promoter, Frank Warren, favours Alex Arthur, while the boxer’s manager, Alex Morrison, and Billy Nelson, his trainer, are opposed to the 33-year-old former world super-featherweight champion from Edinburgh being placed at the head of the queue.
Interestingly, both Burns and Limond -- who is from Glasgow -- have suffered defeat against Arthur, the former in February 2006 and the latter three years earlier.
“I do not think a fight between Ricky and Arthur would turn out to be anything special or a big seller,” said Morrison. “Arthur’s best days are behind him and I don’t believe that the Scottish public would turn out in large numbers because it would be too one-sided.
“But Ricky against Limond makes sense, if Willie beats Anthony Crolla later this month and becomes British champion. It would be a much more credible match and a great fight for Scotland.”
Nelson sided with the veteran, insisting that Arthur must first prove that he is worthy of a rematch. “Arthur has to earn the right to fight Ricky for the world title because he has done nothing of note since he lost his belt to Nicky Cook in 2008,” he said.
“As good as Arthur once was, I believe that Ricky would hurt him at this stage of his career and I would not want that to happen. Arthur should face up to Katsidis or Kevin Mitchell first and see where that takes him. We would gladly fight the winner in what would be a great bout for Glasgow, in the open air next summer.”
Limond, who was seconds away from defeating Amir Khan in 2007 before being retired by his corner, likes the idea of a featuring in the first world championship bout between two Scots. “The big fight for Scotland would be me against Burns,” he said. “It would be massive and a real barnstormer. The prospect of that happening has given me extra incentive to beat Crolla.”
Meanwhile, Greenock featherweight John Simpson has been forced to pull out of his title fight with British and Commonwealth champion Lee Selby due to contracting a virus. the fight had been due to take place at London’s York Hall and has been rescheduled for next month.
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