Ricky Burns Vs Roman Martinez At Kelvin Hall, Glasgow 4th September

Ricky Burns will at long last get his chance with Puerto Rico’s WBO super-featherweight champ Roman Martinez.

Subsequent to weeks of work between the two camps, the Commonwealth champion coming from Coatbridge will meet the unbeaten Martinez in Glasgow on 4 September.

During a media conference which will announce the Kelvin Hall event Burns, 27, mentioned: “This has been dragging on a bit.

“It is the biggest fight of my career, but I’m more than confident that I can beat him.”

The Scot has been installed as mandatory challenger late last year, with the fight signed for the champion’s homeland.

I have 10 weeks’ solid training ahead of me, more than enough to prepare for this fight

“At the start, it was meant to be in Puerto Rico, then it was here and then there were a few dates that all fell though,” explained Burns.

“I was originally training to fight on the 17 July, but obviously it was moved forward. But the date is set now and I have something to train for.

“I have 10 weeks solid training ahead of me, more than enough to prepare for this fight.”

On the same bill, Greenock man John Simpson is likely to fight for his Commonwealth featherweight title against English rival Stephen Smith plus Edinburgh super-featherweight Paul Appleby returns to the ring after having a year’s absence, with his adversary yet to be declared.

Martinez, additionally 27, who won the title from Essex fighter Nicky Cook in Manchester in March this past year, has since won two defences on home land with knockouts of Feider Viloria and Gonzalo Munguia.

With all the delays for this proposed fight Burns has fought just once since last June, beating Youssef Al Hamidi on points in a non-title bout on 15 May.