By Edward Chaykovsky

Promoter Eddie Hearn admits that WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns is better than Gavin Rees, but he doesn't believe the Scottish boxer has enough ability to defeat WBC champion Adrien Broner (26-0, 22KOs). Last Saturday night in Atlantic City, Hearn watched Broner pick apart Rees over five rounds.

Burns (35-2, 10KOs) will return on March 16th in a unification showdown with IBF champion Miguel Vazquez (33-3, 13KOs).

"I think if you have to compare Ricky Burns to Gavin Rees, you have to say that he's the better fighter. He's a current world champion and he's improved so much. I never used to rate Ricky Burns that much, but now I think he's a brilliant fighter," Hearn said to I Film London.

"He would give Adrien Broner a different kind of fight than Gavin. Would he beat Adrien Broner? I would have to say no. [Broner] is too good, too skilled. That's not taking anything away from Ricky Burns, who I think is fantastic and a brilliant fighter. His fight with Vazquez is his first real test."