Cuba's Richard "El Tigre" Abril (18-3-1, 8KOs), the WBA's lightweight world champion and Scottish boxer Ricky Burns (36-2, 11 KO's) the current WBO lightweight titleholder could face each other in a unification bout. Both fighters expressed their desire for the fight on Twitter, according to Abril's promoter Mr. Carlos Rodriguez from Miami.
Rodriguez added - "We are ready to match Richard Abril against Burns. We have received some messages from Burns' manager and hopefully we reach an agreement that satisfies both sides. Let’s make this fight to determine which of the two is the best."
"It was difficult to get opponents for Richard since the fight with Brandon Rios. Abril worked hard to defeat Sharif Bogere to capture a world title and he was stripped of a clear victory against Rios, and that says a lot about his value as a boxer - but it also speaks a lot about the opponents who do not want get into the ring against Abril."
"If Burns and his team want to unify and want recognition in America, Abril is willing to fight at any time. You have to make these types of fight, because we believe that boxing fans are expecting to see this kind of war where two champions are eager to impose their styles and maintain supremacy."
In his last fight in March, Abril defeated Sharif Bogere by unanimous decision to win the WBA world title.
"Since the win over Bogere I said that a fight with Ricky Burns is in our plans. Now, there is a possibility and we are ready to fight him and establish ourselves as one of the strongest champions of the lightweight class," Abril said.
