Adrien Broner says he'll remain at 140 pounds, calls out Ricky Burns for title shot

Adrien Broner announced he would be returning to welterweight following a defense of his 140-pound title in April, but those plans have apparently changed.

The former four-division champion was ringside to watch his friend Robert Easter Jr. win a lightweight title Friday on Spike, and sat down with Dana Jacobson for his first on-screen interview since a 30-day jail stint.

Broner (32-2, 24 KOs) was forced to vacate the title after missing the 140-pound weight limit for his bout with Ashley Theophane, but says he now wants to fight the man who claimed it: Ricky Burns.

"The motto still the same - anybody can get it," Broner, 27, said. " … But there's a guy from the U.K. that I was trying to fight since (campaigning at) 130 (pounds). And he ran from me like I had a knife and a bat and a fully loaded gun.

"But I still have that knife and that fully loaded gun so let's get it on at 140 pounds and let me win my title back."

Burns (40-5-1, 14 KOs) topped Michelle Di Rocco for the vacant WBA strap in May and has his first title defense set for Oct. 7 vs. Kiryl Relikh. Should Burns get past Relikh as expected, a bout with Broner makes a lot of sense, and it's one the three-division champion says he would relish.

"I fought for this title because Adrien Broner didn't make the weight," Burns said in May. "If he gets his finger out, that fight is an option as well."

(Photo of Broner by Mark J. Rebilas-Paste BN Sports)