WBO #10 lightweight Josh King says he’s ecstatic to be facing former two-division world champion Ricky Burns (38-5-1, 12 KOs) for the WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight Championship at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on November 7.
The event will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
“When this opportunity came up I jumped at it,” said a happy King during a break in training. “This is exactly what I wanted. I can’t wait to get it on with this guy and get a win over a two-division world champ.”
King (19-3, 9 KOs), from Townsville, Queensland, Australia, has already held the Australian Super Lightweight, WBF World Super Lightweight, WBO Oriental Lightweight and WBO Asia Pacific Lightweight Championships as a professional. But adding a name like Scotland’s Ricky Burns to his resume would propel the 30-year-old onto the world stage.
“A victory will give me the opportunity to fight for the world title,” he added, “but I know he’s a two-time world champ and it’s not going to be easy. Ricky has done some great things in the ring.”
King says he’ll be coming into the fight in top shape, as he’s been training for months for two consecutive fights that were cancelled.
“I’ve done a lot of things differently for this fight,” he continued. “I’ve changed trainers and gone to an experienced Steve Deller. I’m training in Townsville North Queensland at the Bad Boys gym. I’m more than ready to win. I see it going the distance. I’ve got to get in and out-work him; show some angles and move on him.”
King’s co-promoter, Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions, along with Adam Wilcock of FightCard Promotions, says Burns and his team have made a mistake in taking this fight.
“They’re thinking they’re going to use Josh as a stepping stone back to the top, but they couldn’t be more wrong,” he explained. “It’s Josh who will be using him. Burns is tailor-made for my fighter. An upset is imminent.”
