Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has claimed that Ricky Burns is finally getting the recognition that he deserves ahead of his bout with Raymundo Beltran on Saturday evening.
WBO lightweight champion Burns has lost just twice in 38 fights and Hearn believes that the 30-year-old deserves to be compared with the best boxers in the sport.
"He's starting to [gain recognition]," Hearn told Sky Sports News. "I think this is his ninth world title fight. If you look at the run he's had, winning the title against Paulus Moses, beat Michael Katsidis, beat Kevin Mitchell, and a very good Gonzalez.
"And now he's fighting Beltran, who I believe outside the world champions is the toughest fight in the lightweight division for Ricky Burns.
"I put Burns almost on a par with Carl Froch, a two-weight world champion and starting to get the recognition he deserves, he packs out arenas up here, he wears his heart on his sleeve and has an all-action style that people want to watch."
Burns has successfully retained his title on four occasions.
