Boxing: Ricky Burns fans can turn up the heat

Published on Friday 3 September 2010 11:27

RICKY BURNS will return to the scene of his first professional victory at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow tonight - and this time he intends to leave as world champion.

The Coatbridge fighter will challenge overwhelming favourite Roman Martinez for the WBO super-featherweight title in front of what looks set to be a full house. Burns' first fight as a professional was a four-round victory in October 2001 at the same venue and he is looking to defy the odds and come out on top again this time.

"It's where I had my first professional fight and Marvin Hagler tipped me to go all the way," he recalled. "It's a chance to go out there and fulfil that. I hadn't looked at the venue as being a good omen - but it could be. I just found out that the show is heading for a complete sell-out so there are going to be 2,500 fans there. Whenever I fight in Glasgow, the atmosphere is always good."

There has not been a world title fight in Scotland since Scott Harrison out-pointed Australian Nedal Hussein in November 2005.