Burns v Cook headlines big night of boxing on Sky

July 12, 2011   ·   0 Comments

Ricky Burns will defend his WBO Super-Featherweight Title against former champion Nicky Cook on Saturday 16 July in a big night of live boxing on Sky Sports. 

WBO super-featherweight champion Burns takes on Cook at the Liverpool Echo Arena in what will be the third defence of his title, and the Scotsman expects it to be his toughest.

Speaking at a media workout, Burns said : “I believe that Nicky will be at the top of his game,”

“He will have got rid of his ring rust with his win in his last fight, and he’ll be coming up to Liverpool full of belief. But I will knock him out whatever shape he is in. That’s a promise. Cook is not good enough to live with me and I will break his heart.”

He added : “In fact, I think he will quit boxing after he has lost to me. You can’t afford to take breaks in this sport, and he is going to pay dearly for the time he has spent out of the ring. I’m younger, fresher and fitter and I will take him out on July 16.”

Cook is planning to invest his purse money into his pub in Tenerife, he said “I’ve just bought a bar over here and it opens on the 23rd of this month, when it will be a double celebration and I’m looking forward to the future,”.

Cook added : “We are going to have all my belts – and the world title one I’m going to win off Ricky – at the bar and I can’t wait to go there. I’m not looking at this as possibly my last fight. I’m planning on winning.”

Burns v Cook is the headliner on a huge blockbuster card which also features Kevin Mitchell’s rearranged showdown against John Murray.  Mitchell was originally scheduled to meet his unbeaten Manchester rival at the Excel Arena in London on 9th July, but came down with a viral infection.

Mitchell said, “I want to face Murray when I’m fully fight fit so there are not excuses. I’ve been in the gym since before this fight was announced and was on schedule with my training and in fantastic shape, but I was then hit by a virus that really knocked me back so I couldn’t train.

“It wouldn’t be fair on the paying fans and Murray if I got in the ring knowing that I wasn’t one-hundred percent fit so I asked Frank for a slight delay. I’ll be fit and ready for July 16th and fans will see the best of Kevin Mitchell.”

In addition to these fights, also on the card is Tony Bellew’s Commonwealth Light-Heavyweight title defence and challenge for the vacant British title against Ovill McKenzie and Frankie Gavin’s WBO Intercontinental Welterweight title defence against Curtis Woodhouse.

Saturday Fight Night is live on Sky Sports 1 / HD1 from 9pm on Saturday 16 July.

Tags: John Murray, Kevin Mitchell, Nicky Cook, Ricky Burns, Sky Sports