Saturday 8 October 2016 13:26, UK
WBA super-lightweight champion Ricky Burns says he feels like he has "been hit by a bus" after fighting Kiryl Relikh on Friday night.
And Burns agrees that his superiority on the night was possibly slightly overstated on the judges' scorecards.
The Scot, a three-weight world champion, made the first defence of his super-lightweight crown in Glasgow and secured a unanimous points win against the hard-hitting Belarussian.
Relikh's trainer Ricky Hatton said the overall verdict may have been fair enough but that the scoring (one card gave it to Burns 118-110 and two made it 116-112) was "shocking".
And Burns told Sky Sports News HQ on Saturday: "We knew it was going to be a tough fight.
"Like I said in the build-up, we prepared for a hard 12 rounds.
"I am feeling it this morning. Obviously, we knew he was a big puncher, but boy could he hit!
"I did think the judges' scoring was a bit off. I have watched the fight back this morning and I would say it was maybe two or three rounds - definitely two rounds, three at the most.
"He had a good start and a good finish, and there were some rounds it could have gone either way.
"What do you like? Him coming forward, while I felt I was landing the cleaner shots.
"We knew it was going to be tough out there but I got the win and that is the main thing and we can move on to the next one now.
"I woke up this morning and feel like I have been hit by a bus, so I think I am going to have a few days off, relax and we will take it from there.
"If not December [for his next fight], definitely the start of next year."
That next fight could be against the former four-weight world champion Adrien Broner in Las Vegas, a prospect that Burns is very excited about.
"I know there were talks and we were in talks about the fight happening in October just now but they fell through," said the 33-year-old.
"No doubt Eddie [Hearn, promoter] will be in touch and will let me know where we are.
"I am more than prepared to go to America and fight. We know it is going to be a very hard fight but these are the fights I want, I want to be fighting the big names, that is the way I have always been.
"Hopefully, we will have some news next week.
"Getting one of the big names over here, that would be a great night but, if the chance comes to fight in Las Vegas, that is something I have always wanted to do."
