Boxing: Ricky Burns insists title fight against Martinez will be worth the wait

RICKY BURNS intends to prove that good things do indeed come to those who wait when he finally challenges Roman Martinez for the World Boxing Organisation super-featherweight championship on 4 September.

The Kelvin Hall will host the first world title fight in a Scottish ring for almost five years and Burns is determined to seize an opportunity which boxing politics have ensured was difficult to secure as his promoter Frank Warren went through lengthy negotiations with Puerto Rican champion Martinez's camp.

But now Burns, who has been the WBO's No 1-ranked contender for more than a year, has been given home advantage and the chance to step out of the shadows as Scottish boxing's main man. "It's been dragging on for nine months," said the 27-year-old from Coatbridge. "First I was set to fight him in Puerto Rico, then it was coming here, then Puerto Rico again. There were times I wondered if it was ever going to happen. Now the date has been set, it's all systems go. I know it won't be an easy fight, but it's a big opportunity for me and I know I can win it.

"Since I first put a pair of gloves on as a wee boy, becoming world champion is what I've dreamed of. Boxing is all I've done since I was 12 years old. I know exactly what I need to do in that ring on 4 September.

"Scotland needs another world champion, we need to get the big shows and the big crowds back here. As long as I go out there and perform as I have been doing in the gym over the past few months, I don't see there being any problem with this fight. I've got a great crowd who follow me from Coatbridge, now I just need to get the rest of Scotland behind me."

Warren, who promoted the last world title fight in Scotland in November 2005 when Scott Harrison made what proved to be his final defence of the WBO featherweight crown, is enthusiastic about Burns' prospects of winning the belt which Edinburgh's Alex Arthur held briefly two years ago. Arthur lost it to Nicky Cook in his first defence, the Londoner being relieved of it when Martinez stopped him in four rounds last year.

"Make no bones about it, this is a tough fight for Ricky," said Warren. "Martinez is a big puncher. If he clips anyone, no matter who they are, he will poleaxe them. It's all about Ricky using his brain and boxing him. If he can do for 12 rounds what Nicky Cook did against Martinez for the first three rounds, then he has a great opportunity to become champion."

The Kelvin Hall bill will also feature Greenock's John Simpson making his third defence of the Commonwealth featherweight title against Liverpool challenger Stephen Smith, while former British featherweight champion Paul Appleby makes his first appearance under new promoter Warren.

The 22-year-old from South Queensferry has been out of the ring since losing the British title to Martin Lindsay in Belfast 14 months ago. "Paul has a lot of potential and I'm delighted to sign him," said Warren. "Hopefully I can deliver the right fights for him and get him into the position he deserves to be."