Ricky Burns Commences Tour With His WBO Belt

Posted by Jamie Mitchell on 09.08.2010

First stop - Hampden Park.



Ricky Burns received a hero's welcome at Glasgow's Hampden Park last night. The newly-crowned WBO super-featherweight champion received a standing ovation from Scotland's football fans, as he paraded his title belt during the half-time interval of the home nation's European Championship qualifier against Lichtenstein.

Scotland's latest Braveheart captured the super-featherweight crown from Roman Martinez last weekend via a unanimous decision, in a dramatic 12-round war with the Puerto Rican slugger.

The thrilling manner of his performance, combined with the massive odds Burns required to overcome in order to realise his dream, has made this story front and back page news across the UK. The fact that precious few pundits gave him any hope of landing the world title at the Kelvin Hall, as well as being virtually unheard of to the casual fan, has led to Ricky Burns becoming an overnight sensation.

The Hampden Park reception appeared to leave the Coatbridge fighter feeling overwhelmed:

"It was a great feeling, and the response I got has made me all the more determined to reign as a world champion for a very long time"