PAUL WEIR has urged Ricky Burns to remain at lightweight for as long as he can.

The former WBO lightweight champion suffered a disastrous split points defeat last time out at the heavy hands of Montenegrin Dejan Zlaticanin.

A combination of elbow and shoulder injuries have put Burns' next outing back to October 4, and just what weight the 31-year-old will campaign at when he enters the square ring in the First Direct Arena in Leeds remains the subject of much debate.

But former two-weight world champion Weir has no doubt that his fellow Scot should remain at 135lbs if he wants to come again at world title level.

Weir said: "I think if Ricky is still comfortable making lightweight then he should stay there as long as he can.

"It is only my opinion, but if he moves up to 140lbs I think he would struggle, because he is not the biggest hitter and when you make that step up there is definitely a difference in power.

"What he needs down in Leeds is a fight against decent opposition that will allow him to regain his confidence, get back to winning ways and give him a launchpad back up the tree."

Weir, now a highly respected trainer in his own right, reckons that Burns should also benefit from his switch to new fight coach, Tony Sims, when he has what will be his second outing under the tutelage of the revered Englishman.

He said: "Working under a new trainer after you have spent a long while with someone else can take time to work out but I expect Tony to have eradicated the problems Ricky had in the Zlaticanin fight."

Meanwhile, Scott Harrison has revealed he will hit a comeback trail that may lead to Burns, after he had his licence reinstated in Cardiff last week.