Ricky Burns vs. Kiryl Relikh: Fight Time, Date, Live-Stream and TV Info

Ricky Burns returns to the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, on Friday, as he makes the first defence of his WBA super lightweight title against Kiryl Relikh.

Burns (40-5-1, 14 KOs) is back at the venue where he created history in May. His stoppage win over Michele Di Rocco saw him become the first Scotsman to win world titles in three different divisions.

Now he takes on mandatory challenger Relikh (21-0, 19 KOs), an unbeaten Belarusian who is promoted by former world champion Ricky Hatton.

Also on the card, Dillian Whyte faces Ian Lewison for the vacant British heavyweight title, while lightweight Scott Cardle defends his Lonsdale strap against Kevin Hooper.

Promoters Matchroom Boxing have announced they will donate all proceeds from tickets sold between midnight Wednesday and midnight Thursday to the family of Mike Towell, the Scottish boxer who died in hospital on September 30 from injuries suffered during a fight.

Hatton had already set up a crowdfunding effort to raise money for the same cause, with the JustGiving page clearing the £40,000 target.

While they will be rivals in the ring during the main event, both teams deserve praise for their efforts.

When: Friday, October 7, 10 p.m. BST (5 p.m. ET)

Where: The SSE Hydro, Glasgow

TV: Sky Sports (UK)

Live Stream: Sky Go (UK)

One Direction

Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

After a points defeat to Omar Figueroa Jr. in 2015, Burns had won just once in his last five outings. Having once stood at the top of the mountain, he was now falling down the other side.

The former WBO champion stuck around at lightweight for a while, hoping to get another title shot at 134 pounds. He did pick up the WBO International belt, pushing him closer to his goal.

Then, all of a sudden, an opportunity popped up to go in a different direction.

Burns grabbed it with both hands, demolishing Rocco to scoop up the vacant WBA crown at super lightweight. It was a special night on home turf—and he even looked a little like his old self in the ring.

However, it seems the former champion may want his old belt back.

According to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, Adrien Broner—who lost the strap on the scales after failing to make weight for an April defence against Ashley Theophane—is open to the idea of fighting Burns.

The current holder isn't getting carried away by the prospect of a lucrative Las Vegas showdown against the American, as he told Michael Gannon of the Daily Record: "Never mind all the Broner stuff—I need to deal with Relikh first. I know I'll keep getting asked about it, but I'm not entertaining any talk about it.

"I've never been a boxer who looks beyond the next fight, and that's how I will stay."

Broner is rumoured to be travelling to watch his potential next opponent from ringside, allowing him to also soak up the atmosphere as a partisan Scottish crowd cheers on one of their own.

In truth, Glasgow holds mixed memories for Burns.

He became a world champion there for the first time when beating Roman Martinez in 2010 to take the WBO super featherweight crown, yet he also suffered painful losses against Terence Crawford and Dejan Zlaticanin in the city.

Those results temporarily derailed the 33-year-old, but he appears to be back on track now. His next destination could be the United States, but Burns has to take care of business at home first.

The Unknown Quantity

So what exactly do we know about Relikh?

Well, looking at his professional record, he's become accustomed to winning bouts inside the distance.

He won on points on his debut over four rounds, while Yauheni Kruhlik made it through to the final bell in an eight-rounder in 2012.

Since then, however, Relikh has left a trail of destruction in his wake.

The 26-year-old won the vacant WBA Intercontinental title in 2015 and has successfully defended it twice since, putting him at the front of the queue to take on Burns.

While not too much is known about the challenger, British boxing fans know all about a familiar face working in the visitors' corner.

Hatton's presence undoubtedly adds a little extra to the occasion. Although still based in Minsk, Relikh travels to Manchester, England, prior to his fights to work with The Hitman.

The fighter nicknamed Mad Bee is a 7-2 underdog, per Odds Shark, but that price has much to do with him being an unknown quantity.

Zlaticanin was in a similar situation against Burns in 2014, only to make an immediate impression on the Scot by scoring a knockdown in Round 1. He eventually won by split decision on the scorecards.

Hatton told Coral Barry of Metro.co.uk how the element of surprise could be crucial for his fighter:

"

We know more of Ricky than [trainer] Tony [Sims] and Ricky know of Kiryl and I think that will work in our favour.

Kiryl can bang but there's more to him than that. He's breezed to this level and there's so much more to come from him.

Kiryl is very aggressive but there's a big skill level behind that punching power and he'll show that on Friday night.

"

So, is he just a stepping stone to bigger fights, or a road block that could halt Burns' career path? By the end of the fight, we should know a lot more about Relikh.

Prediction

Burns cannot afford another defeat on his record.

With a world title in his possession, he is an attractive option for other fighters to take a look at. Without it, though, he just becomes a tough opponent without any real upside. Why bother taking on someone as durable and dogged as Burns if you don't really need to?

Relikh's 90 per cent KO ratio, per BoxRec, makes him dangerous, but Burns has never been stopped.

Although the favourite may have to cop a few blows in the process, he will find a way to grind down Relikh and force a late stoppage.