RICKY Burns has promised to give the dangerous Kiryl Relikh his "undivided attention" after it was announced yesterday that the Belarusian would provide the opposition for the Scot's first defence of his WBA Super-Lightweight title. The 33-year-old from Coatbridge became Scotland's first three-weight world champion when he stopped Italy's Michele di Rocco in the eighth round at the SSE Hydro in May.

A host of super-fights theoretically beckon but first Burns must take care of the unbeaten Relikh at the same venue on October 7. Promoted by Ricky Hatton, Relikh is the mandatory challenger and boasts a daunting record, having won all 21 of his previous fights, with 19 of them as knockouts. The fight will be screened live on Sky Sports.

“Relikh is a very tough fight as a first defence," said Burns, whose victory against Di Rocco saw him add a Super Lightweight title to previous world crowns at Super-Featherweight and Lightweight. "He’s got a high KO ratio so he will be very dangerous throughout. Trust me he has my undivided attention and I will have to be at my best to get through this. There are some massive fights out there in the future against some huge names in the 140lbs division – but we’re taking it one step at a time, and that starts on October 7 at the Hydro.”

Relikh landed the vacant Inter-Continental title in May with a second round stoppage over Lazaro Santos de Jesus in Bulgaria, a belt which he has now successfully defended twice. “Kiryl is one of those cool, unflinching boxers – nothing fazes him,” said Hatton. “This is a big opportunity for him and he’s not bothered about being the underdog.

“Kiryl’s been training and boxing away from home for years so he’ll have no problem going to Scotland for the fight. I think having the crowd against him will bring the best out of him. Ricky Burns is a top class fighter. You don’t win three world titles by being anything less than world class, but there always has to be a changing of the guard and I think this could be Kiryl’s time."

The undercard is still taking shape but Scotty Cardle will defend his British Lightweight title against Kevin Hooper, Commonwealth Games gold medal favourite Charlie Flynn will take on Manchester’s Kofi Yates, with Flynn’s Commonwealth Games teammate Joe Ham and Brixton’s Heavyweight star Dillian Whyte also on the bill.