RICKY BURNS has warned Kiryl Relikh that he can take everything the big-punching Belarusian can throw at him, but he won't know what has hit him when he experiences the full force of the Glasgow crowd.

The 33-year-old from Coatbridge, who became Scotland’s first-ever three weight world champion with an eighth-round stoppage of Michele di Rocco of Italy back in May, takes on mandatory challenger Relikh at the Glasgow arena on October 7, the day before Scotland’s football international against Lithuania.

Relikh, who was in Glasgow with his trainer Ricky Hatton yesterday to promote the fight, has 19 knockouts from a perfect 21 contests on his resume but Burns has seen off big punchers in the past and feels he can use his experience to do so again, as he closes in on a concrete offer of a money-spinning super fight with Adrien Broner in Las Vegas. By contrast, he reckons that attempting to dethrone the world champion on home turf will be a step up for the Belarusian.

“He is obviously a big puncher, with all those knockouts,” said Burns, who is preparing for the fight down in Essex with trainer Tony Sims. “But throughout my career I have been in with lots of big punchers. Don’t get me wrong, it is not nice to get hit in the face - but I always take them. It is a good job I don’t mind getting hit."

Money-spinning fights are in the pipeline for Burns assuming he can win. “Even before we went down the route of this one there was talk of other fights but they never happened for whatever reason,” said Burns. “But since we have done this, we HAVE had offers for other fights, either later on in the year or the start of next year. So we know we have to get through this one. We know this is going to be tough but I think my experience is going to be the big thing. I have been boxing for about 20 years and I am going out there to do a job.

"In a way it is a big step up for him," he added. "Especially walking out in Glasgow, at the Hydro, the fans here are very good so I am sure they are going to make it nice and noisy for him. It is okay Ricky saying that he is going to handle it and all that but we will see how he reacts when we are in that ring, everyone else is clearing out and it is just me, him and that ref there. That is when it will sink in."

Relikh known as the Mad Bee of Baranovichi, doesn't lack for confidence. He said that any other outcome than him adding the WBA World Super Lightweight belt to his Inter Continental title was "out of consideration". Hatton spoke of his affection and respect for Burns but warned him to beware his man's nasty streak. "For what he has done for Scottish boxing, I can's speak highly enough of Ricky Burns," said Hatton yesterday. "I haven't got him on speed dial but I think of him as one of my mates. Kiryl doesn't have the rounds under his belt that Ricky has but he has flattened pretty much everyone he has been in with. He won't be fazed by the hostile atmosphere. He is a nice kid but mentality wise he has a real nasty streak about him and he has been wanting this so long."