Ricky Burns says that his upcoming December 15 fight with Liam Walsh will serve as a final pit stop before he faces Adrien Broner in 2013.

From the Liverpool Echo:

"I was ringside when (Walsh) fought Appleby and he showed tremendous heart and strength to come through when he was deep in trouble. I’ll be in the best shape possible and will leave nothing to chance for this one."

The 29-year-old Coatbridge fighter added: "The big motivator is a showdown with Broner, who I was accused of avoiding last year."

Promoter Frank Warren has already talked up Burns-Broner for 2013, saying he has "an understanding" with Golden Boy that if both win their next fights, they'll go head-to-head next. Broner has a taller order in store, facing WBC lightweight champ Antonio DeMarco on November 17 in Atlantic City.

If the fight does happen, it will make up for the agreed-upon fight that was to take place in November 2011, when Burns signed to face Broner in Cincinnati, then pulled out and moved up to lightweight. Broner is making his own official move to 135 pounds with the DeMarco bout.

Is this a fight you think will actually happen, or just talk on both sides?