ARTHUR'S A BURNT-OUT OLD BANGER
Burns hurls insults ahead of title clash
By Hugh Keevins
RICKY BURNS last night vowed to be the young pretender who takes over Alex Arthur's British, Commonwealth and European crowns on Saturday night.
The super-featherweight triple-header is Burns' opportunity to step out of the shadows he feels he's been forced to occupy through public indifference to his flawless professional record.
And his method of drawing attention to himself was to hurl a series of insults at the champion, who has lost only once in a 23-fight career.
Burns said: "I can beat Arthur and I will be crowned the new champion.
"Arthur's so flash at times he thinks he's a Ferrari but really he's just an old banger. A Ford Escort would be the best way of describing him.
"They might be fine for running around town but as soon as they get out there on the motorway and enter the fast lane they can't keep up with the newer cars.
"The engine burns out and it stutters to a halt on the hard shoulder."
Burns used to be a motor mechanic and is threatening to put a spanner in the works when he takes on Arthur in his home city of Edinburgh in a match that will be shown live on TV.
The Coatbridge-based boxer is the type who has no objection to letting everybody know what he thinks of himself.
Aprevious opponent was once stunned to find Burns following him into the toilet before a fight in order to tell him he was about to receive a beating.
Twelve months ago, he took on the then British lightweight champ, Graham Earl, in a catch weight, non-title contest in London.
He walked past Earl in the ring and told him he was about to inflict on him the first defeat of his professional career. The forecast was proved deadly accurate after a points decision in Burns' favour.
It was a victory for ambition over expectation and the cocky challenger expects lightning to strike twice at the Meadow bank Arena this weekend.
Burns said: "Winning this fight means everything to me. It's the chance of a lifetime and I won't let it pass me by without giving Arthur the fight of his life.
"I won't be looking to knock him out early on. I want to take him down the road for as long as possible and then watch him burn out as he tries to keep up with the fast pace I'll be setting."
Arthur will keep his response to Burns' claims until his first meeting with the Press tomorrow.
He is five years older than the 22-year-old challenger, a man who is being kept by his mother.
Burns said: "I'll give full-time boxing a go for five years. I packed in my job as a mechanic, so I only get paid when I fight.
"My mum's been keeping me, so this is my chance to repay her and further my career."