Burns Set For 2016 World Title Shot After 4/9 Showcase

By Elliot Foster

Ricky Burns will have the chance to fight for a world title in 2016 after his next fight was nailed down.

The former two-weight world champion, 32, is set to return to the ring at the O2 Arena in London before a potential crack at another global honour.

Burns (39-5-1, 13 KOs) has won world titles at both lightweight and super featherweight with the WBO and claimed the Organisation’s International title in his last fight, stopping Australia’s number eight-rated Josh King inside 11 rounds on the undercard of Callum Smith’s one-round British super middleweight title victory over fellow Rocky Fielding at the ECHO Arena.

And it is thought that he’ll box for a belt on on April 9 as part of the undercard that will support heavyweight contender Anthony Joshua’s next fight.

‘Rickster’s’ manager, Alex Morrison, told the Daily Record: "Ricky's stopped his last two opponents and we've been told that he'll be fighting for a belt of some kind on the undercard of the Joshua bill.

"If he comes through that then he'll definitely be given a world title shot in the summer –– probably against WBO lightweight champ Terry Flanagan.

"This is great news for Ricky, especially since his bankruptcy order ends in March. This will be a fresh start for him."

Burns, who ended the challenge of Ghana’s Prince Ofotsu inside five rounds back in August before halting King in Liverpool, had debts of £420,000 and was declared bankrupt back in February following the loss of a legal battle against former promoter Frank Warren, who has since won a case against former two-time British super middleweight champion and world title challenger Paul Smith.

The Coatbridge man claimed his first world title five years ago when he took the WBO super featherweight title from Roman Martinez with an unanimous decision win at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow.

He then moved up to lightweight, after three successful defences, and beat Michael Katsidis on points to become the interim champion before winning the full crown against Paulus Moses and making –– again –– three successful defences before being soundly outclassed by now-WBO super lightweight king Terence Crawford in March, 2014.