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Burns: "I Would Love To
Finish My Career In Glasgow"
Ricky Burns says it would be fitting to draw the curtain on
his illustrious career in Glasgow when the time is right,
but the Coatbridge hero is confident he still has plenty
more great nights left in the tank as he spoke with Chris
Lloyd in the latest episode of Matchroom Boxing’s podcast
‘The Lockdown Tapes’.
Burns (43-8-1, 16 KOs ) created history by becoming
Scotland’s first three-weight World champion in May 2016
when he added Super-Lightweight glory to his
Super-Featherweight and Lightweight titles by stopping
Michele Di Rocco for the WBA title at the SSE Hydro.
'Rickster' joined the paid ranks at the age of 18 in October
2001, decisioning Woody Greenway at Kevlin Hall in Glasgow,
51 fights and almost 20 years later the ultimate
professional insists that he is still going strong following
a close defeat to Welshman Lee Selby in London last October.
"I just felt as if I had done enough to win in that fight,"
said Burns. "It wasn't just the Selby fight but over the
last year and on social media, I had lots of people asking
me if I was still fighting. After the fight it was things
like that going through my head but I’m not ready to retire
yet. If I had went in and Lee had punched the face off me I
would have said no more.
"As I say, I thought I had done enough to win and I do think
I have a couple of good fights left in me so let’s see what
happens! I was 36 at the time, I am 37 now and I don’t kid
myself. I know I have got a year or two left of my career.
I’ve always said I will decide when the time is right, I
just don’t like it when people are trying to force it upon
me.
"I started ticking over in the gym up here and had to shake
off a few injuries after the Selby fight. All the scans have
come back clear and I have been back to normal doing
marathon runs, the body is all good.
"We’ve not spoken about dates or opponents yet but I would
love to finish my career in Glasgow and have one more big
night up here. Throughout my career the fans have always
turned up and showed great support so I would love to put on
one last show for them up here before I call it a day.
"I don’t really want to think about life after boxing until
I’ve decided that’s it. I see myself staying within boxing
and getting an amateur club started. Getting my pro license
would be great and I think I would make a good coach and a
good trainer."
As well as reflecting on his glittering career and looking
ahead to what comes next, Burns discusses his amateur days
in Scotland, dealing with losses, what it takes to maintain
his incredible fitness, as well as the future of Scottish
boxing.
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