Booth Feels Ryan Burnett Will Be Ready For World Title in 5 Fights
By Terence Dooley
Adam Booth has told the Belfast Telegraph that Ryan Burnett (12-0, 9 KOs) will be ready for a world title tilt after five more fights. The 23-year-old picked up the vacant British bantamweight after decisioning Jason Booth in November; his performance was met with some criticism, but Booth believes it was an important learning fight for his charge.
“It's not often you get the chance to do that,” he said when speaking about the points win. “There are too many fighters on their way up blowing people away and then when they step up they get found out. I don't want that to happen with Ryan, I don't want him to fall short of the expectations that I have for him and if that means I get some criticism along the way then that's fine.”
Indeed, Booth has already spoken to Eddie Hearn, Burnett's promoter, about the possibility of securing a world title fight for the Belfast-based contender. He said: “[M]y expectation is that Ryan will become a World champion and if he's not knocking on the door of a World title fight after five fights then I will be very disappointed. I've had this discussion with Eddie Hearn.”
Burnett meets Anthony Settoul for the vacant WBC International title on the undercard of Carl Frampton versus Scott Quigg on Saturday night. Booth also told the Telegraph that the fight against France's former EBU-EU champion represents another step up and will be a learning curve for the 23-year-old.
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