Ricky Burns praised for taking on 'nightmare' opponent Julius Indongo
Promoter Eddie Hearn described Ricky Burns' next opponent as a "nightmare" but praised the world champion for not taking an easier fight.
Burns will defend his WBA super-lightweight title against IBF world champion Julius Indongo on 15 April.
But Hearn wanted him to face a less dangerous foe.
"It's not wrong for him because he can't win the fight, it's just that there were easier options for more money," Hearn said.
"That's why you have to admire him, because he doesn't care about the money, he cares about creating a legacy, about creating history. That's inspirational."
Burns could have defended his world title against the American Paulie Malignaggi, but as soon as Indongo won the IBF belt against Eduard Troyanovsky in Russia, Burns wanted to face the Namibian.
The contest, at The Hydro in Glasgow, will be the first time a unification bout - when each opponent is putting a world title at the same weight on the line - will be held in Scotland.
"To get a unification fight in this division is very difficult, because it's either Terence Crawford [the WBC and WBO super-lightweight champion] or this guy," said Hearn.
"This was one we targeted and, in the meantime, the Malignaggi fights and other fights came up who were bigger names but were easier.
"I'm going to Ricky Burns and saying, 'you can fight this guy for x money or this horrible nightmare for less money, what do you want to do?'.
"And he said, 'I'll fight the horrible guy for less money'. So I thought I'd better phone Alex [Morrison, his manager] to talk him out of this.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/39261200
Burns will defend his WBA super-lightweight title against IBF world champion Julius Indongo on 15 April.
But Hearn wanted him to face a less dangerous foe.
"It's not wrong for him because he can't win the fight, it's just that there were easier options for more money," Hearn said.
"That's why you have to admire him, because he doesn't care about the money, he cares about creating a legacy, about creating history. That's inspirational."
Burns could have defended his world title against the American Paulie Malignaggi, but as soon as Indongo won the IBF belt against Eduard Troyanovsky in Russia, Burns wanted to face the Namibian.
The contest, at The Hydro in Glasgow, will be the first time a unification bout - when each opponent is putting a world title at the same weight on the line - will be held in Scotland.
"To get a unification fight in this division is very difficult, because it's either Terence Crawford [the WBC and WBO super-lightweight champion] or this guy," said Hearn.
"This was one we targeted and, in the meantime, the Malignaggi fights and other fights came up who were bigger names but were easier.
"I'm going to Ricky Burns and saying, 'you can fight this guy for x money or this horrible nightmare for less money, what do you want to do?'.
"And he said, 'I'll fight the horrible guy for less money'. So I thought I'd better phone Alex [Morrison, his manager] to talk him out of this.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/39261200