Burns ready to feed off fear in world title bout

RICKY Burns believes the "fear factor" in fighting WBO world super-featherweight champion Roman Martinez will spur him on to victory when they meet at Glasgow's Kelvin Hall on 4 September.

After months of wrangling between the two camps, the Coatbridge boxer will at last get his chance for a crack at the title against the unbeaten Puerto Rican, who won the belt by beating Nicky Cook in Manchester last year.

Both fighters joined a conference call yesterday to publicise the first world title fight in Scotland in five years and Burns, 27, wasted no time in claiming he will be inspired by the impressive Martinez, who is odds-on favourite to keep his belt.

"I know that by fighting Roman I am stepping up to world class, I admit that," the Scotsman said.

"But he gives me the fear factor and that will give me the edge. The better the opponent, the better I box.

"I always perform better when I am up against it and I will be at my best. You just have to look at his record. He is a great boxer and a big puncher. But I have come up against big punchers in the past and I have proved that I can dish it out and take it."

Burns' preparations are well under way and he insists he has been totally focused on making the most of the long-awaited world title opportunity.

"I was ready to fight in Puerto Rico in March before it was postponed," he said. "But I had a good rest before I started training again and I will be more than ready.

"For weeks I have just been thinking about the fight and the added pressure of fighting in front of my home fans. But the preparations have been excellent, the weight is good and I have started heavy sparring. I will also be bringing in heavier sparring partners with different styles.

"I can't wait. There is always a good atmosphere at my fights and it is going to be awesome walking in to the ring on that night."

Martinez, speaking through an interpreter, seemed confident about facing the Scot who will look forward to having the backing of more than 2,000 boxing fans in the Kelvin Hall when the pair take to the ring in a few weeks.

"I have no problems going to Glasgow, I am ready to go there and return with my title," Martinez said. "I think I will win the fight by knockout. I have been training very well, it has been a great training camp.

"I will be working to the body in the early rounds to try and wear him down before I stop him."