Sparks set to fly as Ricky Burns and Michael Gomez prepare for title fight showdown

RICKY BURNS and Michael Gomez will come face to face today at the weigh-in for their Commonwealth super featherweight title fight at Bellahouston tomorrow.


And that normally threatens to be as menacing as anything that happens in the ring if recent history is any indication.


When the two met for the first media briefing for their showdown they clashed in the street during a photoshoot afterwards.


It would be an understatement to say there's no love lost between them and Gomez emphasised that when he accused Burns of being disrespectful to him.


The Mancunian said: "I'm the first to admit I'm a loudmouth. But when I go into the ring I go to war with a respect for the rules like any other professional boxer. All Burns talks about is wanting to hurt me. He just badmouths people."


The Bellahouston Centre is sold out and Gomez knows his ticketselling abilities revolve around a past that could be described as dazzling and destructive by turns.


He has won a Lonsdale belt outright and it's his place in history that consumes his thinking.


He added: "The place is sold out because I'm a massive name and I bring excitement to every fight.


"I admit when I fought Amir Khan last year it was purely for money. But this time I want the title and I need to take the fight for the love of the sport.
"This is bigger for me than the night I destroyed Alex Arthur in Edinburgh to win his British title in 2003. This feels like the biggest fight of my life."


Whoever wins the 12-rounder won't earn as much as Irvine-based Ryan Brawley did in nine by taking the Prize-fighter title and £25,000 at lightweight on Tuesday night.


Ryan said: "People said I wasn't strong enough but I showed I'm one of the best light-weights around."






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