Weighty decision as Burns gives up WBO title

The Coatbridge super-featherweight wants to focus on winning a second world title at lightweight.

Burns, 28, had been due to make a mandatory defence of his crown against undefeated American Adrien Broner in Cincinnati in November. But he has experienced increasing problems making the nine stone four pounds weight limit since taking the title from Puerto Rican Roman Martinez 12 months ago, due to his height and natural build.

Burns was reportedly to have received £200,000 for putting his title on the line in the States in the wake of his most recent win over Nicky Cook two months ago after the Englishman retired with a damaged back in the first round.

The champion, who has made three successful defences of the crown, declined to comment last night after expressing the view that any statement is best made by promoter Frank Warren.

His manager, Alex Morrison, confirmed the shock news before also revealing that Burns will now face Australian Michael Katsidis in Glasgow instead for the vacant Interim WBO lightweight title.

Burns has been persuaded by Morrison to give up his ongoing battle with the scales and the Glasgow promoter said: “I’m happy and relieved that Ricky is relinquishing the title because constantly having to make the weight was taking its toll.

“Ricky was concerned that people would think he was ducking out of a fight with Broner, but that is certainly not the case because he has the heart of a lion.

“This is a wise move on his part in my view. It makes sense as the extra five pounds will make a huge difference and I genuinely believe that Ricky is capable of winning a second world title.”

Morrison also hinted at the possibility of an eventual all-Scottish showdown with former WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison, who was released from a Spanish jail earlier this week.

Harrison has not fought for more than five years, but Morrison fully expects him to make a comeback at a higher weight once he resumes full training.

He said: “Scott is undoubtedly capable of coming back at lightweight or welterweight, given his level of determination, and a future fight between him and Ricky would have huge appeal.”

The Burns-Katsidis showdown has been set for 12 November at the Kelvin Hall, where the Scot produced a career-best performance to out-point Martinez.

Katsidis, 31, stopped Englishman Kevin Mitchell 17 months ago to become interim WBO champion but subsequently lost the title to Robert Guerrero.

He was previously beaten by ring legend Juan Manuel Marquez for the WBA super-lightweight and the WBO lightweight titles.

The Queensland boxer has a 28/4 record compared to Burns’ figures of 32/2 but he is highly regarded as he has several big names on his record including Jesus Chavez, Graham Earl and Mitchell.

Warren, who is also of the view that the time has come for Burns to move up, is expected to finalise details of the Katsidis fight within 48 hours.