JIM WATT believes Dejan Zlaticanin is the perfect opponent for Ricky Burns to launch his bid for a third world title shot.

The 31-year-old saw his reign as WBO lightweight champ ended with a comprehensive points defeat by American Terence Crawford back in March.

But, buoyed by a change of trainer, with English fight coach Tony Sims replacing long-term corner man Billy Nelson, Burns will come again at the Braehead Arena on Friday week against unbeaten Montenegrin Zlaticanin.

And ring legend Watt has no doubt the No.13-rated WBC 135lbs slugger will be just what the doctor ordered for Burns.

Gentleman Jim said: "Obviously Ricky's camp have decided to go down the route of challenging for the WBC title, and to get there and earn a crack at the champion Omar Figueroa, they need a scalp from high up in the rankings.

"Beating Zlaticanin will get Ricky inside the top 10 and it will also add an unbeaten scalp to his record, so I would say that this fight is the perfect one to relaunch Ricky and help him come again at world title level.

"The other aspect of this is, that for all Zlaticanin is unbeaten and highly ranked, he has not fought in any of the type of fights Ricky has.

"He has a record of 18 wins from 18 fights with 13 stoppages, but you look at who he has fought and you would struggle to recognise any names.

"He is 30 and has been a pro for a while but he has not fought at the level Ricky has been operating at. Zlaticanin will also not have experienced anything like the atmosphere that will be waiting for him."

When it comes to Burns' decision to ditch long-term trainer Billy Nelson in favour of the respected Sims, who was also present in the Scot's corner when he was outclassed by Crawford, Watt reckons that sometimes a change is as good as a rest.

The former WBC lightweight champion said: "Sometimes things can just go stale between a fighter and his trainer and I had that experience myself when it was time to shake things up, and that is why I went with Terry Lawless.

"Tony Sims is highly-rated within boxing and has done well to turn Kevin Mitchell around.

"The fact that Ricky also goes down south to work with his camp and does not have the distractions that come with family life in Scotland is also a plus.

"The fact Tony was in Ricky's corner assisting Billy for the Crawford fight means that the two of them were familiar with each other and that is a plus.

"So you have a fresh pair of eyes looking at things and I am sure we will see a difference against Zlaticanin."