CHRIS ASTON reckons sparring with world champion Ricky Burns will boost Huddersfield boxer Tyrone Nurse’s bid for a title fight of his own.
The 22-year-old has high hopes for 2013 after finishing this year helping Scottish star Burns prepare for his WBO lightweight defence against Liam Walsh next month.
The pair clash at London’s ExCeL Arena on Saturday, December 15, with Burns expected to see off the Norfolk fighter (not to be confused with Halifax’s Liam Patrick Walsh).
Burns, from Coatbridge, is hoping to clinch a unification clash with American Adrien Broner, who aims to take Antonio DeMarco’s WBC title on Saturday.
Nurse is nearing the end of a fortnight North of the border, and could be asked back for further sessions next week.
“It’s a big job because Burns is a top-class fighter who has a very important bout coming up,” said Nurse’s trainer Chris Aston.
“They need a boxer who can hold his own against someone who has been a world champion at two different weights.
“Burns’ last seven fights have been for titles, and he made short work of Kevin Mitchell, who has himself been much talked about.
“He beat Mitchell in four rounds yet Tyrone has been going eight with him each day, albeit with heavier gloves.
“It’s still a feather in Tyrone’s cap that they ask him to perform an important job, and it’s excellent experience for him.
“Tyrone is honing both his skills and his confidence, and that can only be good, because we are planning big things for him.”
Nurse beat Barcelona-based Nicaraguan Santos Medrano on points in an eight-round light-middleweight clash at Sheffield last month.
It was a fourth win since defeat by Adil Anwar in the Prizefighter final – Nurse’s sole loss in 25 professional bouts.
