And Mathews who is the mandatory challenger for the British Title told BBC Radio Merseyside he is confident of beating current champion Paul Appleby.

BBC: Boxer Mathews wants major honours

Promoter Frank Warren believes Braehead Arena will be a sell-out for the fight, with Alex Arthur, who once held the belt now in Burns' possession, and rising star Paul Appleby on the undercard.

BBC: Ricky Burns confident ahead of bout with Evensen

Baritone David Pittsinger etched a sympathetic cameo as Blanche's aristocratic father, and as her brother, tenor Paul Appleby sang with honeyed tone in the scene where he bids Blanche farewell the closest thing this opera has to a love duet.

WSJ: Review: Stirring revival of Poulenc opera at Met