Boxing: An all-Scottish world title fight is Paul Appleby's real ambition

Following the Alex Arthur route to the top, Paul Appleby will try to win the WBO Inter-continental championship by beating Joseph Laryea of Ghana in the chief supporting bout to Ricky Burns' first defence of his world title next Saturday evening at Braehead Arena.

Arthur's first title, won against Dariusz Snarski in 2003, was the same one as Appleby is now trying to win, and Edinburgh's "Amazing" Alex, as he was back then, went on to win British, Commonwealth, European and world titles.

Appleby, from South Queensferry, has already won and lost a British title but this will be his first title fight since his move to Frank Warren's stable, and the stakes could not be higher.

If he defeats Laryea, promoter Warren has promised Appleby that he will gain a contest with Burns for his WBO super-featherweight belt. Lose, and the former British featherweight champion would have to start all over again. If he does meet Burns, it will be the first time that two Scots have faced each other with a world title at stake.

"It would be massive," said Appleby. "My dream when I turned pro was to fight for world titles, and me and Ricky would make history. It's east v west, Edinburgh against Glasgow, so it would be a massive fight for the Scottish boxing fans."

The Inter-continental belts are of little value in themselves, and add hardly any value to a fighter's box office worth, but it is what they represent in the WBO rankings that really count.

For the WBO sees the Inter-continental level as a real stepping stone into the top 15 of its rankings, and any boxer rated from one to 15 can feature in a challenge to the champion, outwith the normal mandatory defences.

Appleby said: "Doing the weight was just too much for me, and I am a much better fighter now. I am stronger and happier.

"I think Ricky will win and so will I. I will be watching him at ringside and I think he will beat Andreas Evensen."

Laryea is the Ghanaian champion and a noted puncher. He has stopped 11 of his 17 opponents, but has lost four fights. He has only once failed to go the distance, and is likely to be one of those tough and awkward Africans that often discomfit Europeans.

Expect Appleby to secure a win, however, and Burns to do the same, setting the scene for Scotland's biggest-ever world title fight.