RICKY BURNS will take what he hopes is his latest step back towards the top rung of world boxing when he faces Josh King for the vacant WBO inter-continental lightweight title at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on November 7.
Burns held the WBO world crown at both super-featherweight and lightweight and, after impressing in defeat to fellow former world champion Omar Figueroa in Texas in May this year, the Coatbridge fighter now wants to continue his resurgence by beating Australian King.
Victory over the decorated former amateur – who is ranked at No.10 in the WBO and enters the bout as the reigning WBO Oriental and Asia-Pacific champion – would raise hopes that Burns could regain his old belt.
But even after winning by TKO on his last outing against Prince Ofotsu in Hull in August, he will have to raise his game once again when he comes up against the 30-year-old Queenslander, who is also hunting a major scalp as he looks to lay his own claim to the world title.
"This is my first championship fight at 135lbs since June 2014 and I can't wait to put myself back in contention for a world title," said Burns, who steps back down from super lightweight.
"The Figueroa fight was tough at 141lbs, but I feel like I boxed well and I think it's given me plenty of confidence going into this one.
"It's a great time for the division in Britain and I'm right in the mix. Obviously I'd like to win my old belt back in this fight will give me a great ranking with the WBO, but I would fight anyone in the country or the world and I'm excited to be in a great fight on November 7."
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