Ricky Burns’s manager Alex Morrison has revealed that the 30-year-old Scot is set for a rematch with Mexico’s Raymundo Beltran in February.
The current WBO world lightweight champion had his jaw broken by Beltran last month in the second round of a bout that was eventually confirmed as a draw, a result that infuriated the Mexican’s camp.
American judge Carlos Ortiz Jr gave the fight Burns’s way, while English judge Phil Edwards declared the bout a draw, with Belgian Andre Van Grootenbruel going the way of Beltran.
It was a ruling that surprised Betfair pundits as Burns, despite showing bravery to box on after dislocating his jaw so early in the bout, produced a disappointing performance on the back of a poor display against Jose Gonzalez in his previous fight.
Beltran nearly had Burns on the canvas in the fourth round but finally floored the Scot in the eighth when the champion left his chin open.
Burns’s injury was described at the time as “career threatening” by promoter Eddie Hearn and the Coatbridge fighter has had to have steel plates inserted into his face to repair the damage.
According to the Betfair website, Burns has recently been able to return to light training and Morrison is keen for his fighter to get back in the ring as soon as possible, saying: “Ricky feels it’s the moral thing to do in giving Beltran another shot.
“He wants to put the record straight after fighting for ten rounds with a broken jaw in that first fight. We want it. Beltran wants it and the fans want it. The deal is done. We’re 99% there with it and are just waiting for the final confirmation, which will happen any day now. We’re looking at early February in Glasgow.”
