Weigh-in alert: Ricky Burns 139.2, Kiryl Relikh 140

Ricky Burns (left) and challenger Kiryl Relikh. Photo: Steve Welsh

Oct

It took challenger Kiryl Relikh three attempts to make weight but he got there eventually and Scotsman Ricky Burns will now defend his WBA junior welterweight title against the unbeaten Belarus-puncher at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, on Friday.

The unbeaten Relikh (21-0, 19 KOs) was first on the scales and came in four ounces over the limit at 140.4 pounds. The large Glasgow crowd in attendance at the St. Enoch’s Centre was told that the excess would be easy to shift but the challenger was back twice more before being given the green light at exactly 140 pounds.

Burns, who is rated No. 8 by THE RING at junior welterweight, weighed in at 139.2 pounds and looked to be in spectacular condition. In fact, for a man who claims that he could still make lightweight, there didn’t appear to be a spare ounce of flesh on the three-weight world titleholder.

During the stare down, Relikh touched Burns’ chest for some reason and the Coatbridge man looked far from impressed. He stared daggers through the challenger before waving to his home support and making an exit.

Relikh is trained and promoted by former two-weight world champion Ricky Hatton. If Burns (40-5-1, 14 KOs) defends his title successfully against him, rumors abound that he will square off against former four-weight world titleholder Adrien Broner in the U.S.

Tickets are on general sale now in the £40-£100 bracket from the SSE Hydro website http://www.thessehydro.com/ and on 0844 395 4000 and 0800 952 0110 (accessible). VIP tickets at £200 are exclusively available at www.matchroomboxing.com

From midnight tonight to midnight on Thursday night, the money from all tickets sold for Friday’s show will go to Mike Towell’s family. Mike passed away last Friday, due to injuries sustained in a bout which took place in Glasgow the day before.

Tom Gray is a UK Correspondent/ Editor for RingTV.com and a member of THE RING ratings panel. Follow him on Twitter: @Tom_Gray_Boxing

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