Boxers consign trash talk to rubbish bin

In the days following David Haye's loss of his world title to Wladimir Klitschko, not a few pundits and a great many of his fans wondered if the Hayemaker had not expended too much energy talking down his opponent prior to the contest which he lost on all cards.

Haye talked the trash, then took the bash. It was not a good way to end a career, as he looks likely to fulfil his promise of retiring before his birthday in a few months' time.

What a contrast was to be found in a measured and calm joint press conference by Scotland's Ricky Burns and Nicky Cook of England as they previewed Saturday's fight in the Liverpool Echo Arena, where the Scot will defend his WBO super-featherweight title against the former holder - the first time in this division that a British world champion has tried to regain the title off another Briton.

For these two tough men, the talking isn't necessary - to them, boxing is strictly business. It's not even about a "Battle of Britain" as Scot meets Englishman.

As Burns said: "Me being me, I'm not looking at it like that. When fight night comes, Nicky and me are in the ring to do a job. That's our attitude."

Cook agreed: "Business is business. We're in it to do our job and all that trash talk won't win you a fight. The only way to win is to be a better fighter on the night in the ring, so what's the point of all the trash talk?"

Burns added: "It's about hard work. The fight is just round the corner, I'm ready to go to work, and there's no way Nicky Cook is taking the title off me.

"We are training for a hard 12-round fight and whether Nicky wants to box or get into a fight, either way Ricky Burns is winning"

That was as rough as the Coatbridge man's tongue got. For his part, Nicky Cook was even complimentary about Burns: "He stepped up his game in winning the world title against Roman Martinez and from that win he has got a lot more confidence."

Cook still fancies himself to win: "I am coming to an age where I am assured, where I am strong at the weight. I just can't see him being able to stay with the power of me. I am expecting a long hard punishing fight, and I have been training in Tenerife in 95 per cent to 100 per cent humidity in the gyms to prepare for it."

Burns has also been undergoing a tough training regime at the hands of coach Billy Nelson, with occasional stops for celebrity visitors - Lee McCulloch and John Fleck of Rangers last week, and Andy Murray wanting to pay a call in the next few days. Burns said: "I've not heard anything definite, but he's more than welcome."

A major issue for Cook is that as he approaches the age of 32, the Londoner has had only one fight - an easy six-round points win over journeyman Yousef Al Hamidi in May - since his defeat by Roman Martinez in four brutal rounds in March, 2009. Ring rustiness must be a real possibility, though Cook maintains: "I'm fresh".Burns also feels his opponent will not be rusty: "Before I fought Martinez last year I was inactive for a year, so I don't think Nicky will be affected."

Neither boxer thinks the location of the fight will be either an advantage or disadvantage. Cook said: "A boxing ring is a boxing ring, and it doesn't matter if it is in Glasgow or London or Liverpool, boxers just get in there and fight."

Burns agreed: "A fight is a fight, it doesn't matter where it is. I'm prepared to travel the world and fight. As long as I am in the ring and doing my job, that's all I worry about."

There may be no trash talk, no fireworks before the fight, but there will be serious fighting in the ring. Cook will use his jab to score points, but Burns has the tactics to get round it and an uppercut or two might come into play.

Take Burns to win a tough fight on points, or perhaps by stopping Cook late on. He could even catch Cook cold early doors, because no matter what the Englishman says, ring rustiness is bound to be a problem.

The undercard is terrific: John Murray v Kevin Mitchell in a real grudge match for the European lightweight championship; Frankie Gavin v Curtis Woodhouse for the WBO intercontinental welterweight championship and local hero Tony Bellew trying to add the vacant British light-heavyweight title to his Commonwealth belt in a rematch with Ovill McKenzie following their great scrap in December at the same venue, when Bellew climbed off the canvas to stop the Derby man.

A week after Saturday's fight, Cook will open his new bar, Ringside, at Golf del Sur, San Blas, on his new home island of Tenerife where he lives with partner Sharon and new-born daughter Isabella. He says that even if he loses to Burns, he will carry on boxing.

If a Burns win turns out to be the case, you get the feeling the Scot would still be a welcome guest in the Ringside bar on Tenerife. For these are two world-class professional fighters, and as such they know that in the ring, it's just a matter of business.