Former champ aiming to become two-weight belt holder

Former WBO super-featherweight champion Ricky Burns is relishing sharing the ring with Michael Katsidis and believes the come-forward style the tough Aussie adopts will bring out the best in him as he seeks to become a two-weight world title holder.

The 28 year-old built his reputation on victory over previously undefeated Puerto Rican Roman ‘Rocky’ Martinez in September 2010 and sees both fighters having similar styles which will raise his level of performance as it did over a year ago.

“Katsidis has been in the ring with some of the best in the business like Juan Manuel Marquez,” Burns told acadvertiser.co.uk.

“Michael is also well-known to the fans here after his wins against Graham [Earl]and Kevin [Mitchell].

“He will come to have a war, but so did Roman Martinez when I won the world title.

“I put on my best performances against fighters who come in to have a fight.”

Katsidis, 31, halted a recent slump in August when stopping Michael Lozada in three rounds up a light-welterweight – but has immediately dropped back down to lightweight after being offered the opportunity to fight in England where he has a perfect 2-0 record. both with knockouts.

The fight with Burns takes place on November 5^th at Wembley Arena and is backed up by George Groves’ first defence of the British super-middleweight title he took from rival James DeGale.