Ricky Burns set for world title battle in Puerto Rico

Edinburgh's Buchanan defied the odds when he defeated Ismael Laguna in Puerto Rico in 1970 to be crowned WBA lightweight champion. Now Burns must do likewise after learning yesterday that WBO champion Roman Martinez has prevailed in securing home advantage for his defence against the Scot on 6 March.

Burns' manager Alex Morrison announced that has agreed a five-figure deal said to be substantially in excess of the 50,000 tax-free originally offered by the Martinez camp. But it represents a tall order for Burns in his attempt to win the belt once held by another Edinburgh boxer, Alex Arthur, prior to being out-pointed by Nicky Cook 17 months ago.

However, Burns, who recognises that it will be much more difficult for him to win in the country where the WBO is based, said: "While I will either have to stop him or win every round convincingly to get the verdict, I know that I have the tools in the bag to beat Martinez.

"I will not make the mistake Cook did of standing and trading punches with Martinez. I will beat him with speed and movement."

Meanwhile, Amir Khan will try to convince England's cricketers to tour Pakistan in a bid to bring international sport back to a country that has been hit by a series of militant attacks, he said yesterday. The WBA world light-welterweight champion, who is of Pakistani descent, is in Pakistan at a boxing tournament – the country's first international sporting event since militants attacked the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore last March.

"It is great to be back in the land of my forefathers. I want to do something for Pakistan sports," he said. "I know many English cricketers, including Andrew Flintoff, and I will speak to them and tell them that a country like Pakistan with a rich sports history needs the support of the international community at this time."