RICKY BURNS, the ex-two-weight world title-holder from Coatbridge, is understood to be close to securing a money-spinning bout against World Boxing Council champion Omar Figueroa in the States.
Burns, 31, is expected to be confirmed soon as the undefeated 25-year-old Mexican-American's latest challenger on a bill in Figueroa's home state of Texas or Las Vegas.
The Scot's promoter Eddie Hearn is believed to be close to sealing the deal for Burns to appear on the same bill as former world middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Junior once the venue has been confirmed.
Burns had been in the frame to meet undefeated IBF super-featherweight champion Rances Barthelemy of Cuba and was also interesting IBF lightweight title-holder Mickey Bey of America.
But he was then offered a fight with Figueroa and that is believed to be his and Hearn's preferred option although the latter refused to confirm that is the case.
Hearn said: "Various negotiations have been taking place but nothing has been finalised although I would hope to be in a position to make a major announcement soon."
Burns, who previously held the WBO super-featherweight title before moving up to lightweight, lost his world crown to American Terence Crawford in Glasgow 11 months ago.
Prior to that, he was awarded a controversial draw against Mexican Raymundo Beltran after boxing for 10 rounds with a broken jaw.
Burns had a total of 10 world title bouts, winning eight of them. But cracks began to appear against Jose Gonzalez in May 2013 when Burns retained his title only after the Puerto Rican suddenly quit on his stool while ahead on points, claiming he had sustained a wrist injury.
It later emerged that post fight checks failed to establish an injury, giving rise to speculation that Gonzalez had simply lost heart after failing to stop the tough and determined Burns.
Burns made a comeback in June last year four months after suffering his unanimous points defeat to Crawford, but his bid to land the vacant WBC International lightweight title against Montenegrin Dejan Zlaticanin ended in disappointment when he was on the wrong end of a split decision after being put down in the opening round.
Hearn brought Burns back in a make-or-break non-title contest against Frenchman Alexandre Lepelley in Leeds last October in an effort to establish whether he was capable of rescuing his career. But, despite a unanimous 79-71 points win, Burns failed to shine.
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