Burns will now face Katsidis for the vacant WBO lightweight belt Pic: ©SNS Group
Boxing champion Ricky Burns has confirmed that he will relinquish his WBO super-featherweight title to step up for a shot at the vacant lightweight belt.
The Coatbridge boxer will now face Australian Michael Katsidis in a battle for the vacant WBO lightweight title on November 12 at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall.
Burns was expected to defend his super-featherweight title against American Adrien Broner but the fighter’s manager Alex Morrison has confirmed to STV that he will now face Katisdis instead.
He said: “We have had confirmation through from Frank Warren’s people that Ricky will now face Katsidis in November.
“The lightweight title is vacant just now and we are all agreed that this is the best fight for Ricky in the long run.
“As Ricky gets older he is struggling to make the weight for his current division and the next sensible step seemed to be to move up to lightweight.
“I don’t think he will have any problems in this division as he has always been big for a super-featherweight and he is a hard puncher.”
The 28-year-old is said to happy about his first lightweight fight against Katsidis - who is known for wearing a replica Spartan helmet during his pre-fight ring entrance – despite earlier admitting that he was looking forward to facing Broner in Cincinnati.
However, the Rickster can count on some strong home support at the Kelvin Hall which was the setting for his title win against Roman Martinez.
Morrison added: “There are a few things that are subject to change but at the moment we are pleased that Ricky is going back to the Kelvin Hall.”
http://sport.stv.tv/world-sport/270...lightweight-title-bout-with-michael-katsidis/
