Ricky Burns wants Adrien Broner fight in the spring

Ricky Burns wants to fight Adrien Broner, just not on February 16. Broner is scheduled to return on HBO on that date, but Burns has decided to fight in late January in Glasgow, and then target a unification bout with Broner sometime in the spring.

It might work out, and it might not, but Burns' promoter Alex Morrison has already stated a price that will get Burns to come to the U.S. to face Broner, at least:

“Ricky didn’t want to jump from a non-event to the biggest fight of his life in a matter of weeks. He’ll make a defence of his title in Glasgow in January and we’ll look at Broner after that. ... Ricky will fight in America if the money is right. That’s £400,000 net, after fees, after tax. We could be looking at April.”

April might be too early if Broner keeps that February 16 date -- and there's no indication that he won't, as Golden Boy has already spoken with other potential foes -- so something like May or June might wind up being more likely, but it's good the fight is being discussed. Burns' asking price is on the high side for a fighter who is unknown in the States, but at what translates to $648,120 net, we've certainly seen more money spent worse by promoters and TV networks.

The real key here will be how much Broner (25-0, 21 KO) really cares about this fight; if he sees Burns (35-2, 10 KO) as an important opponent he has to fight, there's a good chance it will happen, if the Burns side is truly as interested in doing it as they say that they are. If Broner sees Burns as a fighter he can live without, then Golden Boy can probably just find a cheaper opponent who will, like it or not, mean just as much to the American audience.