2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Callum Johnson has described Ricky Burns as an "inspiration" ahead of his second professional fight.

 

Johnson appears on Burns' undercard at the Braehead Arena, Glasgow, on March 12.

 

And the Naseem Hamed protege says the WBO Worls Super-Featherweight champion is the ideal role model.

 

"It's a real honour to be boxing on the same show as a Ricky again," said Johnson.

 

"I'm a keen student of boxing, and I've watched his career right from the start.

 

"He fought Graham Earl down in London as the away man, and he got a gig against Alex Arthur when he wasn't very experienced.

 

"But Ricky has stuck with it, worked as hard as he possibly could, and now he is reaping the rewards.

 

"He is a classic example of what you can achieve if you have talent and dedication, and that's an inspiration to me.

 

"I know that I have to make the most of my talent and drain every last ounce from it.

 

"I don't want winning a gold at the Commonwealth Games to be a high point of my career.

 

"I want it to be just the start."

 

Johnson got his career off the perfect start last year, when he halted Phillip Townley in two rounds at the Braehead Arena, turning heads with his accurate power-punching.

 

Now the light-heavyweight wants to make swift progress in the next 12 months.

 

"Hopefully I can have half a dozen fights between now and Christmas," said Johnson.

 

"That's the plan anyway, and by that stage I should be on the verge of fighting for a title."

 

Burns v Laryea headlines an exciting fight card that also features Michael Jennings against Edinburgh's Gary McMillan in an Eliminator for the British Welterweight Champion (subject to British Boxing Board of Control approval); Commonwealth Games Champion Callum Johnson, who captained the Scottish boxing team, follows up his stunning first round KO win last December in a four-round contest; Edinburgh's Stephen Simmons, who won bronze at the Commonwealth Games, makes his professional debut in the cruiserweight division; unbeaten Dublin super-featherweight Steven Ormond features in an eight-rounder; Edinburgh light-middleweight John Thain, Glasgow featherweights Jonathan Slowey and Michael Roberts, and Welsh super-featherweight Craig Evans complete the card.

 

Tickets, priced at £50, £75 and £120, are available from:

 

Braehead Arena

0844 499 1700

www.braehead-arena.co.uk

 

Morrison's Gym

0141 554 7777