By Edward Chaykovsky
WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns is still not fully recovered from the broken jaw he suffered at the hands of Raymundo Beltran three months ago. Burns' promoter, Eddie Hearn, hopes his boxer will be fully ready for a mandatory defense of his title against undefeated Terence Crawford at Glasgow's SSE Hydro Arena on February 8.
Burns' jaw is being examined this week, according to Jim Black of Herald Scotland, who says Hearn reserved three more dates later in February. Burns had a titanium plate inserted in his jaw to assist the healing process.
"The bottom part of my jaw is still numb," Burns revealed to the paper. "I am told the feeling will eventually return but I don't know exactly when. But it's not causing me a problem.
"I have been back training for several weeks and I am feeling fit. But naturally I am keen to find out how my jaw stands up to sparring although I am confident that won't be an issue."
