by Shaun Brown

Three-weight world champion Ricky Burns will return to action on June 16 in Newcastle.

The 35-year-old Scot will have his 50th fight on the Matchroom card at the Metro Radio Arena.

The show, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, is co-headlined by Josh Kelly's Commonwealth welterweight title challenge against Australia's Kris George as well as British lightweight champion Lewis Ritson's third defence - and a chance to win the belt outright - against Paul Hyland Jr.

Burns (41-7-1, 14 KOs) last fought in October last year dropping a 12 round decision to stablemate Anthony Crolla at lightweight. 'Rickster' had aspirations of luring Crolla back into a rematch, possibly in Scotland, after their closely fought affair but his Mancunian friend and rival is eyeing fights against Vasyl Lomachenko as well as another domestic clash against Luke Campbell.

Burns, who won his first world title in 2010 at super featherweight against Roman Martinez, is currently without a top 15 ranking with any of the four governing bodies.

IN OTHER NEWS: MTK Global is delighted to confirm the arrival of a quartet of unbeaten professionals – Darren Reay, Chad Ellis, Kyle Redfearn and Jay Hughes - at MTK Newcastle.
 
Lightweight Reay and super-welterweight Ellis are set to feature in Newcastle on June 16 on the undercard of Kris George v Josh Kelly with Redfearn and Hughes eagerly awaiting their chances to shine under new management.
 
Reay said: “MTK Global is the biggest and the best in the business. They’ve got all the biggest names and if they’re with MTK Global, it’s a massive opportunity for me.
 
“My personal goal is to win the British title first and anything after that I’ll earn as a bonus. The way I’m fighting is all-action so I like to bring a lot of entertainment for the fans.

Shaun Brown covers British boxing for Boxing Scene. Contact him on Twitter @sbrown2pt0