Ricky Burns Continues To Crave a Fana Unification

WBO world super-featherweight champion Ricky Burns reiterated his dream of a unification fight with Mzonke Fana but knows he has to first take care of Joseph Laryea.

The Coatbridge fighter has set his sights on Fana, the IBF super-featherweight champion from South Africa.

However, on March 12 at the Braehead Arena, near Glasgow, Burns, 27, has to take care of Ghanaian Laryea who looked impressive when beating South Queensferry fighter Paul Appleby the last time he was in Scotland.

"I asked for the Fana fight," Burns said.

"The Ring Magazine has me down as number two and Fana is number one.

"The Ring title is vacant and the only thing I can do really do that is better than winning the WBO title is to unify and I'm sure Fana is up for it.

"But I can't look ahead of this fight. The Fana fight is not going to happen if I don't go out and get the job done on Joseph.

"That will give me that bit of motivation.

"If I don't win then the bigger fights are not going to happen so that will spur me on."

Burns admits he is coming to terms with his increasing popularity.

As part of the advertising campaign to promote his title defence, striking posters of the Coatbridge fighter holding his belt have sprung up all over Glasgow in recent days - with some being taken back down again, presumably by Burns fans.

"People were sending me messages on my facebook telling me that they were getting their photographs taken beside the posters and I was told today that people have been stealing them," Burns said.

"I haven't seen the posters myself but I was told that they will also be going up in Coatbridge in the next few days so I guess I will be seeing them soon.

"But I don't see the big deal.

"I don't feel any different being world champion.

"I knew I was coming here for a workout but I wasn't expecting all the media to be here as well.

"I am still trying to get used to it all."