Ricky Burns Wants British Showdown with Kevin Mitchell

Interim WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns is hoping to face Kevin Mitchell this summer, once he gets past Nambia's Paulus Moses.

The 28-year-old will face Moses on March 10th at the Braehead arena, and he is also hoping his home fans can fill the arena to persuade promoter Frank Warren to hold the summer clash in Scotland.

Possible future opponent Mitchell has lost only once in his 33 fight career - tasting defeat against Michael Katsidis in 2010. Last year Burns beat Katsidis comfortably but he knows he can't afford to look past Moses.

Obviously I have to get past Paulus Moses first or that (Mitchell) fight is not going to happen. I know Kevin is fighting in February and as long as the two of us come through then we can sit down and talk about it. Both of us are promoted by Frank Warren so its an easy fight for us to make. I would say the two of us are the best lightweights in Britiain just now so it is a fight that I would really want.

When I beat Katsidis he (Mitchell) was saying he would love the chance to fight me. They are talking about the venue being down in London or up here. I was on the same bill when Katsidis beat him down at West Ham's football ground. I know that was the venue that was mentioned if I was to fight him in the summer. I would prefer it up here.

Speaking to Skysports, Burns explained he only has one more week before he has to cut back to make sure he is within the nine stone limit to face Moses.

The hard dieting will start next week, at the moment I have a wee bit of leeway and if I want something I can have it. But I start pushing it seven weeks before the fight, I started training just after the New Year so we are in full training, two and three times a day. But the countdown is on the weigh-in and then it's time to get on with the job. Making nine stone nine is a lot easier than having to boil down to nine stone four.

Burns wanting Mitchell is one of the main reasons I like the guy, he wants to fight everyone. When he announced the fight with Katsidis people expected him to lose by KO but he stood there traded with him and came through the fight. He doesn't have much punching power which may be a problem as he climbs the rankings to face some of the world elite.

Despite liking the fight, I have some mixed feelings about it. Frank Warren would love the fight it's two of his fighters and he would earn a nice little pay packet from it. - and I don't like the man but if enough of that. If the fight does happen, then whoever loses faces a hard battle to get their career back on track. Burns could be looking for bigger fights than Mitchell, but fair play to him for wanting to challenge the Londoner.

If I had to pick a winner I'd go for Burns, but what about you? If the fight happens in the summer who do you see winning?