WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns has admitted that he delivered a below-par performance in his last fight with Jose Gonzalez in May.

Burns prevailed with a stoppage victory after Gonzalez retired with a wrist injury, but after his opponent dominated the bout, the Scot is aware that he needs to improve against Raymundo Beltran on Saturday night.

The 30-year-old told Sky Sports News: "The mistakes that were made won't happen again. During the fight, from the start you could see that I was trying to force the fight, I was over-stretching, I was trying to put everything into every punch and that is just not me.

"I am a good boxer when I want to be, but I know obviously I can get involved in a brawl if needs be as well and I think on Saturday night we are going to take this a round at a time.

"There are times when I am going to try to go out and stick to my jab, keep it long, but there is always that side to me that wants to get involved in a bit of a war. So who knows? We will take it one round at a time."

Burns could face a unification fight with Miguel Vasquez if he can get past Beltran.