Fresh off his epic thrill a minute fight of the year Ricky Burns wastes no time getting back into action making his first defense of the WBO Super Featherweight title when he squares off with Andreas Evensen on 4 December in the Braehead Area, Glasgow. Going into the Martinez fight Burns 27, wasn’t given much of a chance and was a heavy underdog with the bookmakers however he showed his promoter Frank Warren’s faith was well founded in getting him home territory when he posted a stunning performance to become Scotland’s thirteenth World Champion. His opponent Evansen 24, is rated 3# by the WBO sports a 13-1(5) record and fights out of Norway by way of Columbia has previously fought in Britain when he stopped Gianpiero Contestabile in 5. His biggest fight to date when when he lost a decision to former WBC 130 title challenger Benoit Gaudet. Here’s what the quiet affable Burns had to say.
Hello Ricky, welcome to 15 rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – Congratulations on a terrific win over Roman Martinez when you won the WBO Super Featherweight title. What can you tell us about the fight looking back?
Ricky Burns – I’ve only watched the fight back a couple of times. You know it still hasn’t sunk in. Again it was a great fight and I always said when I’m up against it that’s when I’m going to be my best. Because there was only a handful of people me and my camp who thought I was going to win the fight. So again when I watched it back I was very pleased with the outcome. Obviously Boxing’s all I’ve ever done since I was 12 years old when I put the gloves on. A world title is one of the most prestigious things you can ever get and I’ve achieved that.
Anson Wainwright – He put you down in the first and rocked you a couple of times. However you showed tremendous spirit and grit to weather the storm what are your thoughts on that now?
Ricky Burns – The knock down in the first I was was square on and off balance and I was going back at the time. I got straight up, if you look at my eyes I was fine. Everybody was panicking, I was having a look ringside and everyone clasped there heads in there hands. It was a clean shot. If I wasn’t been of balance and the damage could of been a lot worse.
Anson Wainwright – You wont be wasting any time making your first defense fighting Andreas Evensen what do you know about him & what are your thoughts on that fight?
Ricky Burns – I haven’t been able to get tapes on him. When I fight I don’t like to watch guys, I like to concentrate on the fight I’m going to fight. My trainer Billy Nelson sits down and picks what their good at and picks out faults and he tells me what to work on. He’s trying really hard to get some (Tapes). When you look at his record he’s won his last 5 by knock out so again another big puncher. I’m going to train exactly the same as for the last fight and I don’t see it being a problem, I just see me making a successful first defense.
Anson Wainwright – Since you won the title what have you been up to? How has winning the title changed things for you?
Ricky Burns – I’m trying to not let it change me. I don’t feel any different than before I won the fight. Obviously getting noticed a lot more, I’m getting more invites to do things. As you said I’m in the ring quite quick after winning the title. So my trainer doesn’t want anything interfering with the gym work because that’s the last thing you want is me concentrating on other things outside of the training. We can’t afford any slip ups.
I’ve been doing quite a lot. I was at the Scotland game (Soccer) when they played Liechtenstein. I was announced on to the pitch at half time. Also when the pope visited Scotland I carried the Scotland flag in the parade. I’ve been invited to a lot of other things with the Scottish First Minister. Again there coming up a couple of weeks before the fight so I’ve had to knock back a few things because I’m trying to focus on training. I’m trying to do what I can, but I don’t want to do to much. When I’m training for a fight I like to be 100% focused. It’s got to be done.
Anson Wainwright – Who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym do you train at?
Ricky Burns – My trainer is Billy Nelson. My manager is Alex Morrison & Frank Warren is my promoter. I train at Billy Nelson’s gym “The Fighting Scots gym”. The gym only has professionals who train there. I train along side John Simpson (A Featherweight who’s 21-7(9) who’s a former British & Commonwealth champion) and another couple of up and coming boxers Michael Roberts (1-0(0) Featherweight) he just boxed the other week on Alex Morrison’s show when he made his debut & Santino Caruana (5-1(0) Lightweight) he’s up and coming as well. He boxed and won as well. Their both hoping to be on the Braehead bill.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your early years growing up in Coatbridge, Scotland?
Ricky Burns – All through school, i was the quietest guy i wouldn’t of said boo to a ghost. I’m still the quietest guy you’ll meet. I like to keep myself to myself anybody who knows me will tell you that. The Boxing side of it. I see Boxing as my job. The gym opened up at the end of the estate and from the first time i walked in that was me hooked. I work part time in a sports shop D W Sports the shops in Coatbridge. I work part time, that gives me all week to concentrate on Boxing. My management & co-workers i get on really well with and don’t see it as a job. When I’m working i spend most of my shifts talking to customers because everyone who walks through the door i seem to know who they are. So again I really enjoy it all.
Anson Wainwright – You told me a couple of weeks after you won the title when you were in Birmingham attending “The Magnificent Seven” show that you were being awarded the WBO belt in the ring between fights that you were more nervous about that than fighting. Can you tell us about that and how it felt to be officially awarded the title?
Ricky Burns – In the ring I feel at home in the gym as well, as I say Boxing was all I ever wanted to do. Outside of the gym at the press conferences I’m really shy and after the fight i like things to go back to normal. I’m still trying to adjust to getting all the attention.
Anson Wainwright – There are several interesting fights for you with fellow British fighters like Stephen Foster Jnr who won the European title recently, British champion Gary Sykes along with Anthony Crolla & fellow Scot Paul Appleby are they fights you’d like or do you see them as steps backwards?
Ricky Burns – Earlier in my career I had been meant to box some of the names you mentioned. I was mandatory when Gary Sykes won the British title. I was mandatory to fight him for it. But obviously when I was offered the world title fight your going to jump at the chance. So I stepped aside. Again Stephen Foster Jr I was supposed to fight him a couple of years ago and the fight fell through. It’s the same with other boxers in Britain. I was down to box John Murray. I was down to box Kevin Mitchell and he had issues making Super Feather and he stepped up. As I’ve always said I’m willing to fight anybody that’s the attitude I had when I first put on the gloves and nothing has changed.
I’ve sparred with Paul (Appleby) a few times in the build up to the Martinez fight and earlier on in our career’s. The same with Alex Arthur. I’m sure he’d have the same attitude as me if the fight came up you’d put your friendship aside for that one night. At the end of the day it’s job.
Anson Wainwright – When your not Boxing what do you like to do with your time?
Ricky Burns – When I’m not training, I enjoy playing Golf. The biggest thing I do is my X-Box, I’m addicted to Call of Duty & FIFA. So if I’m not training you’ll find me in the house on Call of Duty. Outside the ring I’m just normal, the same as everybody else. I’m a Celtic (Soccer) fan, but I’m not into Soccer as much as when I was younger.
Anson Wainwright – Who was your Boxing hero growing up? What fighters do you like to watch today?
Ricky Burns – When I was growing up it was Prince Naseem Hamed. That was who we used to gather around to watch. Now I’d say my favorite is Floyd Mayweather.
Anson Wainwright – I don’t know if you got chance to meet him but he was at the “Magnificent Seven” show in September that you were also at.
Ricky Burns – I saw him when he came in and I was dying to go over and see him but me being me being dead shy I didn’t. I said to my mum and she said you didnt even get me his autograph! haha
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans who supported you and will hopefully be cheering you on against Evansen?
Ricky Burns – I have a great support in Glasgow, especially Coatbridge. They make the night that bit more special. A big thank you to all my fans and everybody who comes to watch. Everybody has been unbelievable.
Thanks for your time Ricky, keep up the good work.
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com
Midweek Musings – Last week i popped to see Marcos Maidana in his training camp ahead of his 11 December fight with Amir Khan, he looked in great shape, he was 145, he thinks Khan is over looking him and calling out the likes of Mayweather. He said “Khan has to win every second of the fight, i only have to win 1 second to win the fight” obviously alluding to his power…All the credit in the world to Juan Manuel Marquez, at 37 he once again reminded us of how great he is getting off the floor to win a ninth round stoppage over Michael Katsidis, at the moment I’d have to put that a fight of the year with the third round as round of the year…Much of the talk afterwords centered around Marquez wanting to fight Pacquiao personally I think the Filipino Congressman is a bit to big for Marquez who’s topped out at 135 but there’s no doubting he’s earned it. I’d prefer to see Marquez fight Erik Morales in Mexico, i think that would be a heck of an event South of the Boarder…Special shout out to Michael Katsidis & his manager/trainer Brendan Smith they certainly played there part in the roller coaster main event on Saturday, i think it’s testimony to their fiercely tough training camp they had in Thailand that they took so much until Marquez finally got to him. I’d like to see him take a well deserved break and come to terms with the devastating loss of his brother then get back into action maybe in front of his adoring fans in Australia, he’ll certainly be welcome back with open arms to America & Britain…Looks like they over matched Celestino Caballero taking him to 130, it was still close but he didn’t look the beast he has been at 122 or 126, it’s a long road getting one of the big guys at Featherweight now. Jason Litzau now deserves a title shot at 130 and he’d have a good shot at any of the champions…Stunning KO by Andre Berto, hopefully he gets a big fight next…Ghanaian Middleweight Bastie Samir looks like he’s a helluva puncher and has the potential to go places likewise Light Welterweight Michael Finney both scored second round KO’s…Get Well soon Kenny Adams, he’s currently in hospital but getting better.
