Raymundo Beltran is ready to face the best of Ricky Burns when he challenges the Scotsman for the WBO World lightweight title at the SECC in Glasgow on September 7.
The Mexican is Burns’ fourth defense of the title and the champion will be under pressure to perform after a heart-stopping fight in the city in May when Jose Gonzalez threatened to end his reign before retiring ahead of the tenth round against the Coatbridge star.
Burns has promised his fans that there will be no repeat of the drama at the Emirates Arena, where Gonzalez hurt him in the seventh and looked to have the 31 year old beaten, with Beltran saying that fight will have no bearing on their clash.
“I saw his last fight, but I’m not thinking about his performance,” said Beltran. “I’m not thinking that Burns is going to be an easy fight. I have to be prepared for a more dangerous Ricky Burns than we saw in that fight, it helps motivate me.
“I’m ready and motivated for September 7, everything is going well. It means a lot to fight for the World title, it’s every boxer’s dream. It opens up the door to big fights. I want to fight the best fighters at lightweight.
“He’s a champion, he’s strong. I’ve got a lot of respect for him and I’m training very seriously to face the best version of Ricky Burns.”
Burns returns to the SECC for the first time since stopping Londoner Kevin Mitchell in his first defense of the crown on a noisy night in Glasgow. With Scotland’s football team facing Belgium the night in a World Cup qualifier Hampden Park the night before the clash, it could be a golden weekend for Scottish sport, but the 32 year old is planning to spoil the party.
“I don’t mind where the fight is,” said Beltran. “I’m thankful for the opportunity and I thank Ricky Burns and his team. I’m just going there focused on my work, not thinking about anything else. We’re ready to fight over there.
“I saw that Gonzalez was leading on the cards against Burns, so that gives me confidence. I think that the pressure is all on Burns, he has to win over the crowd and look convincing after his last fight.
“I can beat him either way, a knock out is the best way but I’m just thinking that it’ll be a hard fight. Points or knockout I will win.
“I’m fighting for the world title at the right moment in my career. Things happen for a reason, I’m ready for the world title. Things which happened in the past prepared me for this.”
