WBO LIGHTWEIGHT boxing champion Ricky Burns will return to the ring next month after failing to secure a replacement for his scheduled defence on Saturday, according to promoter Frank Warren.
Late stand-in Jose Ocampo withdrew this week and Burns will now not fight at the Excel London this weekend.
Original challenger Liam Walsh pulled out with a back injury suffered in a car crash while Warren’s official website revealed Filipino Ocampo had withdrawn because of “contractual issues with TV”.
Burns had been hoping his next fight after Saturday would be a unification bout against WBC champion Adrien Broner and Warren is keen to get the Scot back in the ring soon to keep that dream alive.
Warren said: “It’s a very disappointing time and I feel for Ricky, who has put in a lot of hard work to prepare and now he won’t be on the show this Saturday, but will return in late January.”
Burns’ manager Alex Morrison added: Ricky will take a week’s rest and then he’ll start back in training again.”