Preview: Burns v Indongo

When Julius Indongo takes to the ring on Saturday night at the SSE Hydro Arena in Glasgow the majority of those in attendance won’t know much about the Namibian, other than a short YouTube clip of his previous fight, where he brutally KO’d defending IBO and IBF Light Welterweight champion Eduard Troyanovsky.

One thing is for certain, since that knockout his reputation within boxing has grown and as a result he definitely provides an element of risk to hometown favourite Ricky Burns.

However, despite Indongo entering into this fight with a reputation inflated by his previous fight, his record of 11 knockouts from 21 victories would suggest that whilst he does possess the ability to deliver a knockout blow, he doesn’t necessarily possess the pure power that YouTube would have you believe.

Burns, the defending WBA champion and Scotland’s first three weight world champion will be looking to unify a division where he has a 100% record since stepping up in May 2016.

Burns, 34, has already stated that he is determined to prove there is plenty left in the tank as he looks to establish his name at the very top table in world boxing. A rematch with current WBC and WBO champion Terence Crawford would surely appeal to Burns should he be victorious against Indongo.

Crawford of course travelled to Glasgow and beat Burns in 2014 to take the Scots WBO lightweight title and one would expect that Burns would want to avenge that defeat now that both men hold titles at Light Welter.

Within Scotland Burns’ reputation is unquestioned, however you would feel that despite all his achievements his name may register with those truly in the know worldwide and a victory against Indongo on Saturday night may not be enough to boost that. A fight with Crawford, particularly one ending in victory, would without doubt establish Burns’ reputation and deliver the plaudits that his achievements deserve.

Writers Prediction: Burns to win on points