Josh King vs. Ricky Burns set, WBO title eliminator on November 7th

 
JOSH King is one win away from securing an elusive world title opportunity.

 
King (20-3, 9 KOs) has signed to face former two-time world champion Ricky Burns (38-5-1, 12 KOs) for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title on November 7th at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England.

 
Burns, 32, who is coming off a stoppage over Prince Ofotsu in August – has lost three of his past six fights – but remains a classy operator at world level, having silenced many in a competitive loss to Omar Figueroa Jr.

 
The softly-spoken Scotsman holds credible wins over Kevin Mitchell, Paulus Moses and reigning WBO super featherweight champion Roman Martinez, as well as a comfortable decision win over Michael Katsidis.

 
“This is my first championship fight at 135lbs since June 2014 and I can’t wait to put myself back in contention for a world title,” said Burns in a press release.

 
“The Figueroa fight was tough at 141 pounds, but I feel like I boxed well and I think it’s given me plenty of confidence going into this one. It’s a great time for the division in Britain and I’m right in the mix.”

Burns faces King for WBO Inter-Continental strap in Liverpool #WhosFoolingWho http://t.co/aqWOlSWZE1 pic.twitter.com/0yH9vhBkjA

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 12, 2015

 
“Obviously I’d like to win my old belt back in this fight will give me a great ranking with the WBO but I would fight anyone in the country or the World and I’m excited to be in a great fight on November 7.”

 
The 30-year-old King has enjoyed a sporadical journey in the paid ranks, making his professional debut at welterweight and having fought as high as light middleweight.

 
King will enter the fight with a WBO #10 rating, where he holds their Asia Pacific and Oriental baubles.

 
The Queenslander, who is managed by Adam Wilcock and promoted by Greg Cohen Promotions, is riding an eight fight winning streak stretching back to 2011, which includes wins over Koichi Ito and crafty Argentine Xavier Luques Castillo.

 
King last fought in May, scoring a decision win over Rogelio Casarez in his US debut. The regional title challenge against Burns will be the Australian’s third consecutive fight abroad, having fought in Thailand earlier in the year.

 
Although the fight hasn’t been billed as an official eliminator, it appears likely that the winner will earn the mandatory position to challenge reigning champion Terry Flanagan.

 
 
Photo: Hayden Hooper/Getty Images