JIM WATT believes that Ricky Burns' hopes of upsetting the odds and repelling the challenge of unbeaten American Terence Crawford hinge on his wealth of experience at world ­title level.

The great Watt, who was WBC lightweight champion for two years between 1979 and 1981, reckons that Burns - boxing in his 10th world title fight at the SECC tonight - can make all of that ring nous count against a challenger who has never fought outwith the USA and is making his world title debut.

Drawing on parallels between his own epic victory over another all-American fight golden boy, Howard Davis jnr, back at Ibrox in 1980, Gentleman Jim has backed Burns to produce a career-best display to hand Crawford his first bitter taste of defeat.

The former world champion said: "At world title level experience is just so important. Ricky has a huge advantage in it and that reminds me a lot of my fight with Davis jnr.

"When he came to Scotland he was the reigning Olympic gold medallist and had been voted the best American boxer at Montreal 1976 in a team that included Sugar Ray Leonard.

"He was unbeaten in 14 professional fights and he was expected to be too slick and too fast for me, just like Crawford is expected to be for Ricky.

"But I was making my 14th appearance in a 15-round fight when he was boxing in only his 14th professional bout. What I found was that when what he had been doing to win his previous fights did not work against me; he did not have a Plan B.

"When that happened he lost his rhythm and began to try that bit too hard and that is when you make mistakes. Crawford has not been in with anyone like Ricky, who is a full-grown world champion, and it will be very interesting to see how he handles that.

"I know the Americans have been making all sorts of noises about how good Crawford is but he is no Ray Leonard and if Ricky is at his best he can win this one late on or by points.

"Although you can forget about the Ray Beltran fight last time out, when Ricky had a broken jaw, he can't afford to have an off night like he did against Jose Gonzalez in the previous contest.

"But Ricky knows all of that, he has looked relaxed and focused all week, while Crawford looked a bit edgy at the weigh-in yesterday. "

He went on: "For me this could be Ricky's time to shine and make a real statement. But for all that, we can not discount how dangerous Crawford will be, especially early on."

The Scottish fight legend has also issued a withering attack on the American's attitude after he arrived in Glasgow on Monday morning just five days before fight night.

Watt said: "I think there is clearly a bit of arrogance in this with the American camp. The minimum you want to be in a foreign country is 10 days before the fight.

"They will have watched Ricky's last fight with Raymundo Beltran and they will believe he is there for the taking.

"That would be to completely disregard the fact that Ricky boxed for 10 rounds in a 12- round fight with a broken jaw."

He added: "2013 was a tough year for Ricky but he came through it by displaying all the hallmarks of a true champion. No-one can question his courage, determination and his ability to find a way to win.

"He will need all of that tomorrow, but if he puts his best together, I think Crawford is in for a shock."