Burns unconcerned with Martinez's verbal threats

Coatbridge's Ricky Burns is most assuredly not frightened or overwhelmed by the verbal assault on him by WBO super-featherweight world champion Roman Martinez.

The Puerto Rican mouthpiece was quoted as saying; "I will have to let the punches flow to get him down and get the knockout. I have to win by a knockout" and had vowed to "humiliate" Burns in front of his own fans.

Martinez obviously doesn't know too much about the psyche of people from the Glasgow area, for such comments are destined to act as a form of antagonism when he and Burns finally get it on in the ring!

Ricky Burns is quoted as delivering his own riposte. "Martinez is only trying to introduce the fear factor with what he has said but that will give me the edge.

"When I know I am up against it, I am at my best. I have been studying how Martinez performed in his recent fights and people are going to see fireworks.

"He is a good boxer and a big puncher but I have been in with big punchers before.

"Look at my fights and you will see I have never been in bother. I have proved I can take a shot and can dish it out, too.

"The better the opponents I have been in against, the better I have boxed."

The Kelvin Hall will see fireworks on the 4th September, a bit earlier than Guy Fawkes night but with added spice in the verbals.