Ricky Burns, who defends his WBO Super-Featherweight title this weekend, is on the road to becoming Scotland's greatest fighter.
So says his trainer Billy Nelson (no bias there eh?) as Burns makes the second defence of his title against Ghanian Joseph Laryea.
Burns, who won the title after a thrilling tussle with Roman Martinez, is a credit to the sport. He's hard working, has nice, sharp skills and has learned from two earlier career defeats - to Alex Arthur and Carl Johanneson.
He's shown that a loss can be taken as a positive rather than a crisis and good on him.
Yet, I still think he still has some way yet to becoming Scotland's greatest champion and neither Laryea (14-4) nor Burns' previous opponent, Andreas Evensen (13-1 at the time), will help him fulfill that legacy.
It's no secret that Burns (30-2), a massive fighter for the super-featherweight division, struggles with the weight and it could well be his team is looking to rack up a few relatively easy defences to build up Burns' name and earn him more lucrative fights.
It would not be surprising to see Burns continue to improve, such is his attitude and dedication to the sport. However, for now there are some great Scottish fighters still standing some way above him.
Ken Buchanan (61-8): Some make a claim for Buchanan arguably being Britain's greatest boxer of all time. In 1970 he beat the great Ismael Laguma of Panama to win the WBA Lightweight Championship, making two defences - including a rematch with Laguma - before losing to Roberto Duran in 1972 after a controversial low blow. Buchanan's non-title fights are equally impressive, including a number of talented and dangerous former and future champions and contenders from the era as Buchanan took to the road, often fighting in America where he was highly thought of.
Jim Watt (38-8): Persistent is the word for Watt, both in style and career. A couple of earlier setbacks - including a points loss to Buchanan in 1973 - did not stop him becoming WBC Lightweight Champion in 1979 at the age of 30, more than 10 years after turning professional. Four defences against solid competition followed before he lost to the brilliant Alexis Arguello over 15 rounds in 1981.
Scott Harrison (25-2-2): What could have been? Harrison was doggedly determined, a swarming fighter who was massive for the weight and used his size to great advantage. Seven defences of the less regarded WBO Featherweight belt is impressive although he appeared a little fortunate to earn a draw in his defence against Columbian Victor Polo in 2005. In that fight Polo used movement to trouble the sometimes mechanical Harrison. Problems with alcohol and personal issues, coupled with legal problems, led to Harrison's demise and he's not been in the ring since 2005.
* Postscript: Today (Friday) Ricky Burns' manager Alex Morrison has issued a statement distancing himself from Billy Nelson's comments.
Morrison is quoted thus: “I wish to disassociate myself from recent comments in the media by Ricky’s trainer, Billy Nelson, in which he claimed Ricky is two fights away from becoming Scotland’s best-ever boxer.
"Ricky will be happy that he is being compared to former champions like Jim Watt, Ken Buchanan and Scott Harrison but will be very unhappy that anyone working closely with him has said he is, or even close to becoming, Scotland’s best ever-boxer.
"Ricky has a lot to live up to and I am sure he will do so. However, he does not need pressure like this put upon him.
“My ambition for Ricky is that he leaves the ring like Jim Watt did, with his health, money, popularity and looks intact. Billy Nelson has done a terrific job with Ricky and has improved him to different levels. But he should remember that is where his role ends and let Ricky do his talking in the ring."
So says his trainer Billy Nelson (no bias there eh?) as Burns makes the second defence of his title against Ghanian Joseph Laryea.
Burns, who won the title after a thrilling tussle with Roman Martinez, is a credit to the sport. He's hard working, has nice, sharp skills and has learned from two earlier career defeats - to Alex Arthur and Carl Johanneson.
He's shown that a loss can be taken as a positive rather than a crisis and good on him.
Yet, I still think he still has some way yet to becoming Scotland's greatest champion and neither Laryea (14-4) nor Burns' previous opponent, Andreas Evensen (13-1 at the time), will help him fulfill that legacy.
It's no secret that Burns (30-2), a massive fighter for the super-featherweight division, struggles with the weight and it could well be his team is looking to rack up a few relatively easy defences to build up Burns' name and earn him more lucrative fights.
It would not be surprising to see Burns continue to improve, such is his attitude and dedication to the sport. However, for now there are some great Scottish fighters still standing some way above him.
Ken Buchanan (61-8): Some make a claim for Buchanan arguably being Britain's greatest boxer of all time. In 1970 he beat the great Ismael Laguma of Panama to win the WBA Lightweight Championship, making two defences - including a rematch with Laguma - before losing to Roberto Duran in 1972 after a controversial low blow. Buchanan's non-title fights are equally impressive, including a number of talented and dangerous former and future champions and contenders from the era as Buchanan took to the road, often fighting in America where he was highly thought of.
Jim Watt (38-8): Persistent is the word for Watt, both in style and career. A couple of earlier setbacks - including a points loss to Buchanan in 1973 - did not stop him becoming WBC Lightweight Champion in 1979 at the age of 30, more than 10 years after turning professional. Four defences against solid competition followed before he lost to the brilliant Alexis Arguello over 15 rounds in 1981.
Scott Harrison (25-2-2): What could have been? Harrison was doggedly determined, a swarming fighter who was massive for the weight and used his size to great advantage. Seven defences of the less regarded WBO Featherweight belt is impressive although he appeared a little fortunate to earn a draw in his defence against Columbian Victor Polo in 2005. In that fight Polo used movement to trouble the sometimes mechanical Harrison. Problems with alcohol and personal issues, coupled with legal problems, led to Harrison's demise and he's not been in the ring since 2005.
* Postscript: Today (Friday) Ricky Burns' manager Alex Morrison has issued a statement distancing himself from Billy Nelson's comments.
Morrison is quoted thus: “I wish to disassociate myself from recent comments in the media by Ricky’s trainer, Billy Nelson, in which he claimed Ricky is two fights away from becoming Scotland’s best-ever boxer.
"Ricky will be happy that he is being compared to former champions like Jim Watt, Ken Buchanan and Scott Harrison but will be very unhappy that anyone working closely with him has said he is, or even close to becoming, Scotland’s best ever-boxer.
"Ricky has a lot to live up to and I am sure he will do so. However, he does not need pressure like this put upon him.
“My ambition for Ricky is that he leaves the ring like Jim Watt did, with his health, money, popularity and looks intact. Billy Nelson has done a terrific job with Ricky and has improved him to different levels. But he should remember that is where his role ends and let Ricky do his talking in the ring."
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