Can Burns impress?

By Andrew Graves @andrewgravess

On the 7th of September Scotland's own Ricky 'Rickster' Burns will defend his WBO Lightweight title for the 4th time against mandatory challenger 32 year old Mexican Raymundo Beltran at the SECC Arena Glasgow. Can The champion send the hometown crowd home happy with a victory?

Ricky Burns Vs Jose Gonzalez - Post-Fight Report (Pricey Boxing)

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Ricky Burns Vs Jose Gonzalez - Fight Preview

By James McKnight @JamesMcKnight83

BURNS AIMING TO EXTINGUISH GONZALEZ THREAT! 

Ricky Burns is aiming to make a third successive defense of the WBO lightweight title on May 11. The Coatbridge fighter comes up against Puerta Rican mandatory challenger, Jose Gonzalez, at the Emirates arena, Glasgow. 

Burns (35-2-0, 10 KO's), split from promoter, Frank Warren, in March and signed with Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport. This was down to Burns' unification title bout with Mexican IBF 135lb titlist, Miguel Vazquez, being called off for a second time. Burns, 30, claimed the interim WBO belt in November 2011 when he defeated Australian, Michael Katsidis, at Wembley arena, London. 'Rickster' then defended the belt in March 2012 beating Namibian, Paulus Moses, in Glasgow. Both of those victories were won by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. Burns then returned to Glasgow in September. He put on one of his most impressive performances to date by stopping England's, Kevin Mitchell, in just four rounds. 

Ricky Burns Signs For Matchroom! Full Press Conference

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Burns proves he is a class above!

Burns sends Mitchell crashing to the canvas.

Last night (September 22nd), WBO lightweight world champion Ricky Burns stopped the No.1 ranked contender and domestic rival Kevin Mitchell in just 4 rounds.

Burns was the slight favourite going into this fight but almost every boxing fan out there thought this was going to be a very, very close fight. How wrong we were... Burns proved to us and all of his doubters (if he actually had any) that he can not only box at the highest level of the sport, he can bang as well. Mitchell was considered as the dangerous puncher going into this fight, but it was him that ended up in the referee's arms at the end of the fight.

In the first three rounds it looked like it was going to be an action-packed 12-round slugfest as both men started strong and did not ease off. Mitchell did just enough to win the first round but then Burns came on stronger and nicked the second and third. Nobody expected what happened in the fourth, I don't even think Burns did. He threw a left-hook as Mitchell was coming in and it landed so sweetly that it was almost inevitable that Mitchell was going to hit the canvas. The 27-year old rose to his feet bravely but opted to fight back instead of doing the sensible thing which was to hold on. Ten seconds later he was down again and it was clear at this point that the fight was going to be over in this round. The referee did let Mitchell continue but Burns put the pressure on again and the ref was forced to step in with just a few seconds left of round 4.

Both men showed true sportsmanship after the fight and embraced each other almost straight away. Burns showed respect to Mitchell's bravery and Mitchell realised that he had been beaten by the better man. It was a great moment for British boxing.

It is onwards and upwards now for Ricky Burns. Personally, I would love to see him in with Adrien Broner and I think it would be between the two best lightweights in the world. If it was a few weeks ago I would have picked Broner to win without a doubt but after witnessing what happened tonight I would have to think long and hard before I made a prediction for that fight. Burns is up there with the best without a doubt.

For Mitchell, I think its back to the drawing board. There was nothing he could have done tonight, he was just beaten by the better man. A fight with Gavin Rees for the British title would be a good comeback fight for him and it would be a huge ticket seller for a domestic fight.

 

By Jack Price @PriceyJ97.

Glasgow delivers a great night of boxing!

It was set to be a good night of boxing but the fans were the people who made the show exciting and great! They showed so much support for the local fighters and it paid off as Stephen Simmons, Paul Appleby, Callum Johnson and Ricky Burns all won.

The main event staged a great performance by Burns who dominated Paulus Moses for most fight. Although Moses showed a few energized and exciting spurts it was nowhere near enough to trouble the flawless performance from the 'Rickster' Ricky Burns.

However it was the under-card fights that made the show in our opinion. Stephen Simmons became the first person to stop Hastings Rasani in 10 fights and Callun Johnson pulled off an amazing stoppage after just 96 seconds against journeyman Tommy Tolan, but it was Paul Appleby Vs Stephen Ormond that got the crowd off their feet and made it a night to remember! Ormond looked to be clearly ahead after the first few rounds but then the warrior Paul Appleby brought it back with true grit and determination. This wasn't the first time that Appleby has given us a fight to remember. You all must remember his fight last year against Liam Walsh that won fight of the year.

The show was great but really it is now the future for Ricky Burns that most people care about... It's been announced that there could be a summer showdown between Burns and Mitchell which has been talked about by the fans for a very long time. Kevin Mitchell isn't the only option that Burns has got that would produce a sell-out crowd, Gavin Rees and Anthony Crolla have also showed that are looking to fight Burns. Ricky hasn't really had much media exposure during his successful career but this fight will surely gain him a few more fans.

So for now we can all look back on a great night of boxing for Scotland and especially Ricky Burns!

Ricky Burns Vs Jose Gonzalez Weigh-In Footage

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Ricky Burns on Jose Gonzalez

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