WBA super-lightweight champion Ricky Burns has revealed he turned down easier assignments before agreeing to take on Julius Indongo in a unification fight in April.
The Scot will look to unify the division when he competes for the WBA, IBF and IBO titles at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow on April 15.
Burns has once again proved his class in recent years after overcoming three losses two years ago. His career looked to be over but Burns has now won four in a row and became a three-weight world champion in May when he beat Michele di Rocco.
He then defended his crown in October when he beat Kiryl Relikh via a unanimous decision but Indongo will pose a serious threat. Burns’ promoter Eddie Hearn wanted his fighter to go down a different route but the 33-year-old is relishing the occasion against Indongo.
Burns told Sky Sports: “There were a couple of options lined up for me and obviously I have chosen this one. It is a more difficult fight but the rewards are much better.
“The way he won the title – that could have happened to anybody. He went over to Russia and he wasn’t expected to win. In the first 30 seconds of the first round he has caught the champion with a good shot.
“I can’t really look too much into that but obviously he can punch a bit so I just need to make sure my hands are up.” Burns is the 1.57 favourite to win, with the draw 26.00, while Indongo is still well fancied at odds of 2.40.
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