Former lightweight and junior welterweight world champion Ricky Burns 42-7-1 (15) is looking to kick-start his career when he takes on Scott Cardle 23-3-1 (7)on the undercard of the cruiserweight world title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tony Bellew at Manchester Arena in Manchester this Saturday night.
The 35-year-old Scottish veteran bounced back from back-to-back losses to Anthony Crolla and Julius Indongo with a four round stoppage of Croatian journeyman Ivan Njegac in June.
Burns insists he has plenty left in the tank and can be a force again in the 135-pound division.
“There’s some big fights to be made in the lightweight division and a win here in front of such a large PPV audience will put me further in the frame for next year,” said Burns to Fightnews.
“The Manchester crowd last time out was fantastic and obviously Anthony Crolla is fighting on the bill, I’d still love that rematch down the line but first and foremost Scotty has my full attention.
“Training has gone really well, I’m always keeping busy in the gym waiting for the phone to ring. It doesn’t matter who I fight, I train for every fight the same so the short notice doesn’t change anything drastically in terms of our preparation. These domestic dustups get the fans excited and it’s a great show to be fighting on.
“It doesn’t matter who I fight, I train for every fight the same so the short notice doesn’t change anything drastically in terms of our preparation. We had to bring forward the last spar and start an earlier weight cut but I’m more than ready to go.
“On reflection it’s been a tough year but that’s boxing, sometimes you don’t get the breaks and it’s a bit of a waiting game. I’m not oblivious to the fact I’m coming to the back end of my career, but there’s still life in me yet. Just ask the lads who I train with day in, day out.
“When you weigh it up, it’s a must-win fight for the both of us. If I am to get a big fight early next year I can’t afford to slip up here and for Scotty this is an avenue to get back in to title contention.”
 is looking to kick-start his career when he takes on Scott Cardle 23-3-1 (7)on the undercard of the cruiserweight world title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tony Bellew at Manchester Arena in Manchester this Saturday night.){kind=link}