London show for Burns in December

WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns will return to the ring in London in December 
following his explosive win over Kevin Mitchell last month.

The popular Scot blew British rival Mitchell away in four rounds in Glasgow on 22 September with perhaps the best performance of his career.

He is now targeting high-profile unification bouts with the likes of American star Adrien Broner, but in the meantime he will have the chance to rack up a third defence of his WBO belt.

Burns will fight a ‘top-ten challenger’ at London’s ExCel arena on 15 December.

Burns said: “Since the win over Mitchell the response I’ve had from the Scottish fans has been fantastic, but I’ve also had so many congratulation messages from the English fans saying what a great fight performance it was and when am I coming to England to fight again.

“I didn’t realise that it would be my very next fight so I’m happy to come down and give them a Christmas treat at the ExCel.

“December 15 is another crucial date for me, once I get that out of the way I’m looking forward to some big unification fights in 2013.”

Unbeaten super-middleweight George Groves and Commonwealth middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders will also feature on the bill.