Ricky Burns Ready For Tough Camp, Moses and Mitchell

Ricky Burns is enjoying his last week of regular living before he gets down to preparing seriously for his interim WBO lightweight battle against Paulus Moses at the Braehead Arena on March 10.

The 28-year-old champion from Coatbridge is already in training for the visit of the Namibian, who has lost only once in 29 fights.

However, he will move into overdrive next week when he starts looking at the scales with the nine stone nine pounds limit in mind, although he admits it will not be quite as difficult as it used to be when he was a super-featherweight.

“The hard dieting will start next week,” said Burns.

“At the moment I have a wee bit of leeway and if I want something I can have it.

“But I start pushing it seven weeks before the fight.

“I started training just after the New Year so we are in full training, two and three times a day.

“But the countdown is on to the weigh-in and then it’s time to get on with the job.

“No matter what weight you have to make it is always hard. But again, making nine stone nine is a lot easier than having to boil down to nine stone four.

“I am much happier now that I have moved up a weight.”

While not taking victory for granted, Burns wants to take on Essex fighter Kevin Mitchell in the summer.

Mitchell’s only defeat in 33 fights to date was to Michael Katsidis at Upton Park, London, in May 2010, whom the Scotsman beat at Wembley in November last year to take the title from the Australian.

“Obviously I have to get past Paulus Moses first or that (Mitchell) fight is not going to happen,” said Burns.

“I know Kevin is fighting in February and as long as the two of us come through then we can sit down and talk about it.

“Both of us are promoted by Frank Warren so it is an easy fight for us to make.

“I would say the two of us are the best lightweights in Britain just now so it is a fight that I would really want.

“When I beat Michael Katsidis he (Mitchell) was saying he would love the chance to fight me.

“I would prefer it to be up here.

“Hopefully we can show them that we can get Braehead sold out and get the fans behind me.

“But for now, I just need to concentrate on my next fight.”