RICKY BURNS has decided not to appear in the top-of-the-bill slot at the ExCel London on Saturday night.

The WBO lightweight champion was to have made the second defence of the title he won in March against Namibia's Paulus Moses.

However, following the withdrawal of Burns' original opponent Liam Walsh – after he was injured in a car crash, and Filipino substitute Jose Ocampo on Monday for undisclosed reasons – the Scot will not now make the trip south.

Burns had been offered a 10-round non-title bout with former British kingpin Derry Matthews, but has opted to wait until the new year for his next appearance, which will be on January 26 and could well be in Glasgow.

Burns manager Alex Morrison revealed: "Ricky was offered Matthews as a replacement over 10 rounds in a non-title fight, but I don't think that would have been fair on either boxer.

"Ricky has clearly suffered a huge amount of frustration in the build-up to this show and I think eventually these things affect you mentally, in a way, when you have to say enough is enough.

"Now Ricky will have a week off before getting back in the gym. He can look forward now and we have plenty of time to get a new and creditable opponent for the new year."