ALEX MORRISON says Ricky Burns has "never looked better" in the build up to a world title fight than he is just 10 days before his defence of the WBO lightweight title against Terence Crawford.

The fight godfather was in attendance as Burns battered out a lung-bursting eight-round sparring session with British and European featherweight champion Lee Selby last night.

And Morrison reckons the prospect of a punch-up with the coming man of American boxing has lifted the Scot's focus to a new level.

He said; "I was at Billy Nelson's gym for Ricky's spar with Lee Selby and it was tremendous stuff. He has had really good work with the likes of Tyrone Nurse and Ashley Theophane, John Simpson and David Brophy but this was as good as I have seen in a sparring session.

"Ricky's work had a crispness and an intensity to it that was up a level from what I have seen in the past a similar stage on the build-up to a world title fight. To me it looks like the fact he has Crawford up next has really helped him get the blinkers on.

"I don't think you can take the Raymundo Beltran fight into consideration, as Ricky boxed for 10 rounds with a broken jaw, but he knows he will have to lift his level from, say, his meeting with Jose Gonzalez.

"Only Ricky's best will do and he is ready to deliver that."

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