By Edward Chaykovsky

WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns has parted ways with longtime promoter Frank Warren, according to the boxer’s manager Alex Morrison. The parting of ways is the second major blow to Warren's stable in less than a week, as on Monday super middleweight George Groves officially jumped ship from Warren to promotional rival Eddie Hearn of Matchroom.

Burns and his manager were furious with the boxer's lack of activity. A scheduled fight in December was canceled after several opponents fell through. And then a planned unification with IBF champion Miguel Vazquez, set for March 16th at Wembley Arena, was pushed back to April 20th after Vazquez withdrew with a claimed viral infection.

The illness suffered by Vazquez was placed under question after photos and video surfaced, which showed the Mexican boxer training during the period where he claimed he was sick.

Morrison said to Jim Black of The Scotsman: “I regret it has come to this because I have known Frank for nearly 40 years, but it has to be for Ricky’s sake. I felt we had to do something to stop Ricky stagnating. Two fights have been called off after he has trained hard for them and it was not even certain that the bout with Vazquez would have gone ahead on 20 April. In fact, I now doubt very much that fight was ever going to happen.”