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Burns joins Sims camp

Ricky Burns is looking forward to his return to action

Ricky Burns is looking forward to his return to action

Former WBO lightweight world champion Ricky Burns has announced that Tony Sims is to train him for his next fight, following his split from Billy Nelson.

And Burns will return to action in Glasgow at the end of June, although his opponent has yet to be confirmed.

Burns lost his world title when he was beaten unanimously on points by America’s Terence Crawford in Glasgow at the start of March.

But the 31-year-old is confident he can bounce back and is eyeing a possible showdown with WBC champion Omar Figueroa at some point.

Explaining the decision to change trainers, Burns told Sky Sports: “After the last fight I sat down with my family. We spoke about it and I just felt as if I needed a change.

“I decided to find a new trainer and I’ve come down this week and teamed up with Tony Sims.

“It’s a great gym and I get on really well with Tony. It’s a great bunch of lads in the gym: Kevin Mitchell, Anthony Joshua, John Ryder.

“We actually go to Spain on Monday as well, so things are looking good.”

Regarding the defeat to Crawford, he added: “It has just made me more determined now. I have got some things I’d like to prove to myself.

“After the fight, people were saying I was finished and I was past it, but there is still a lot more to come from me.

“We are looking at the end of June back in Glasgow, possibly going down the WBC route, so we just need to wait and see what happens.

“It was annoying me that people were saying ‘he is past his best’ and ‘he’s not really looked good these last couple of fights’ but I think the change of trainer, getting some new ideas and just a total change of scenery, is going to be for the good.

“I think it’s going to bring out the best in me and I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring now.”

Keen to face Crawford again

As for possible future opponents, he said: “I’d love to get the rematch with Crawford. Although he was good, I wouldn’t say he was so good that I wouldn’t fight him again.

“I’d be more than happy to go to America, if that’s what they wanted.

“But (promoter) Eddie Hearn wanted me to step back and get my confidence back, so we’ll just take it from there.

“I do feel I belong at world level, so we will see what happens. Hopefully, in the next couple of weeks we will find out who the next opponent is going to be.”

John Murray and Anthony Crolla will square off on Saturday and Burns was asked if the winner of that bout could be a potential opponent.

“Never say never,” he said.

“It’s going to be a cracking fight on Saturday. Eddie said the only fight for me on the British scene would be if it was a world title eliminator, so it could happen.”

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