Liverpool set for Burns night
Ricky Burns is set to defend his WBO super-featherweight title outside of his native Scotland for the first time when he takes to the ring in Liverpool.
An opponent for the Glasgow fighter will be announced next week ahead of the clash at the city's Echo Arena on July 16.
It will the third defence of the title Burns won at the expense of Roman Martinez in September and his first outside Scotland as a world champion.
Burns will top a bill that also includes Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Tony Bellew aiming to add the vacant British title in a rematch with Derby's Ovill McKenzie.
Promoter Frank Warren said: "Burns is one of only four world champions that Britain can boast of at the moment and the only one you can watch on these shores and he is every bit as exciting as (David) Haye, (Carl) Froch and (Amir) Khan, all who are having their next fights abroad.
"Bellew and McKenzie served up a drama-filled classic back in December with both men trading punches non-stop and both visiting the canvas before Bellew emerged the victor.
"The fights could have gone either way, so a rematch with the British title at stake was a natural to bring back to the superb Echo Arena."
Date published :
04 May 2011 - 16:00:09
