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Hearn 'very comfortable' with Burns deal

Ricky Burns will make his Matchroom debut on May 11 © Getty Images

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Promoter Eddie Hearn insists he is "very comfortable" that he has broken no rules by taking Ricky Burns from Frank Warren to Matchroom Boxing, an agreement that was announced on Monday.

Burns recently ended his time with Warren after a series of scrapped bouts. He was supposed to fight IBF title-holder Miguel Vazquez in March, but the contest had to be postponed until April 20 when Vazquez reported a stomach bug.

Warren maintains Burns still has contract obligations to fill under his promotion, not least the revised date with Vazquez. However, Hearn is claiming the WBO lightweight champion will now make his Matchroom debut on May 11, and is not concerned by Warren's reaction.

"It's part and parcel these days. Once we receive confirmation from a fighter's legal team that the fighter has terminated his agreement, it's really between the two parties as to whether that has been done rightly or wrongly," Hearn told Sky Sports News.

"I've seen that letter of termination, I'm very comfortable. We're a big organisation, we have advice from our lawyers and I'm very comfortable.

"There is no contract now. Ricky has terminated that agreement. If Frank believes Ricky has terminated that contract wrongly, no doubt they'll meet each other in a court of law. But having seen that agreement, I would be very comfortable if I was Ricky Burns. We've been through this issue before with Frank and had no problems. There'll be no issue around the May 11 fight."

Hearn insisted he would continue to take Warren's fighters if individuals of the calibre of Burns and George Groves - who has also made the switch - wanted to join his stable. The promoter said he has "another major announcement coming Wednesday", but wanted to focus on Burns' pursuit of the extraordinarily talented Adrien Broner.

"We look to name [Burns' next opponent] this week. I'm going up to Scotland on Thursday, we've got two venues booked for May 11. Ricky is at that level where he needs the big fights," Hearn said.

"We saw recently what a talent Adrien Broner is, beating Gavin Rees. I'd like Ricky to go into that fight with a huge amount of momentum. The May 11 fight is all about getting him in front of the people of Scotland, giving him a big test and trying to unify the division.

"People are talking about Gavin Rees for Ricky but Gavin would need some big wins to make that happen.

"Adrien Broner might move up to 147 [pounds] to fight Paulie Malignaggi, who knows? But the plan for Ricky is three fights in eight or nine months. One in May, one in early September and one in December."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.