Scottish WBO lightweight beltholder Ricky Burns will pursue his 21st consecutive win and his eighth stoppage victory during the run when he faces Puerto Rico’s Jose Gonzalez on May 11 at at Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland.

Burns (35-2, 10 knockouts), who turns 30 in April, recently cut ties with promoter Frank Warren, dissolving an April 20 unification bout with Mexican IBF beltholder Miguel Vazquez (33-3, 13 KOs).

Having signed with Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, Burns is coming off a fourth-round knockout of Kevin Mitchell in September. Gonzalez (22-0, 17 KOs), who turns 29 in June, will be after his fifth consecutive knockout win.

“I’m really looking forward to May 11. He’s a big puncher with a great KO record. But I’ve been in with big punchers before and that doesn’t worry me in the slightest,” said Burns.

“It’s great to have the date and name sorted now so I can just focus on getting myself in great shape for a big night in Glasgow.”

Promoted by Peter Rivera, Gonzalez is the WBO’s mandatory challenger to Burns.

“I’m very glad for this opportunity and it’s a dream come true fighting for the world title as the mandatory challenge,” said Gonzalez.

“I’m not worried about fighting in Burns’ homeland. I’m preparing greatly for this fight, and I’m sure I will bring the world title to my country.”

RYO MIYAZAKI TO FACE CARLOS VELARDE ON MAY 8

In another recently announce bout, Japan’s 24-year-old Ryo Miyazaki (18-0-3, 10 KOs) will pursue his ninth straight victory and his fifth stoppage win during that stretch in defense of his WBA junior flyweight crown on May 8 against Mexico’s 22-year-old Carlos Velarde (23-2-1, 13 KOs), a winner of three consecutive fights, at Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, Osaka, Japan.

Photo by Scott Heavey, Gettyimages

Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]