WBO Super-Featherweight title holder Ricky Burns, in an attempt to gain a higher profile in the US, has agreed to take on brash young American Adrien Broner, at the US Bank Arena in Cincinnati on 26th November 2011. In what seems to be a somewhat risky defence, not only does Burns cross the Atlantic to fight away from the UK for the 1st time, but will meet Broner in his home city.
Ricky Burns - Champion
28 year old Burns, made his debut in the professional ranks as far back as October 2001, when beating Woody Greenaway at the legendary Kelvin Hall arena in Glasgow.
After a few early successful fights in his native Scotland, he came to the attention of British fight fans in February 2005, when stepping up a weight and at short notice, taking on the previously unbeaten British Lightweight champion Graham Earl in a non-title fight. Over 8 rounds at the Wembley Conference Centre in London, Burns impressively caught the champion with some good body shots and cleverly utilising his jab, took the decision on points.
A year later he challenged the British, Commonwealth and European Super-Featherweight title holder Alex Arthur, only to be defeated on points. Arthur was generous with very insightful praise after the bout, saying that in his opinion Burns had the makings of a future World champion.
Another year later, he again challenged for the British title and received the only other defeat in his career to date; losing to Leeds based Carl Johanneson on points.
Taking the Commonwealth title in 2008, Burns was soon elevated to the WBO number 1 ranking and finally got a shot at the world title, coming up against Puerto Rican Román Martínez at the Kelvin Hall last September. Despite being on the floor in the 1st round, he came back to gain a unanimous points decision, inflicting Martínez’s first career defeat in the process.
With Norwegian Andreas Evensen, Ghanaian Joseph Laryea and former champion, Englishman Nicky Cook seen off in successive defences, Burns now travels to the USA to meet mandatory challenger Broner.
Adrien Broner - Challenger
22 year old Broner, who had a successful amateur career of over 300 fights, turned professional in May 2008 and started out in emphatic style winning his 1st three fights on 1st round knockouts.
With an unblemished record, boasting a hugely impressive knockout percentage of 80.95%, Broner’s aggressive style has quickly become popular with the US TV public. He has been featured on numerous high profile undercards, such as the Oscar De La Hoya-Manny Pacquaio match up in Las Vegas, where he once again dispatched his opponent in the 1st round.
So far this year Broner has added the WBC USNBC and the WBO inter-continental titles to his portfolio and comes to this title shot being ranked by Boxrec as number 1 in the world. Many people believe him to be capable in time, of unifying the various titles in the division.
Fight Statistics
Ricky (Rickster) Burns (Coatbridge, Scotland) - 34 Fights, Won 32 (9 by KO, KO % -26.47), Losses 2
Adrien (the Problem) Broner (Cincinnati, Ohio) – 21 Fights, Won 21 (17 by KO, KO % - 80.95)
Burns has gone on record saying that he relishes this chance to show the American public what he is capable of. Speaking on Sky Sports “Ringside “ programme, he made it clear that he wants to meet the best in the division and prove he is superior to them all.
Big punching Broner has been compared to Floyd Mayweather, especially his fast hands and similar awkward style, but Burns is convinced he can dictate the fight and force the American to fight at the pace he sets.
In earlier contests, Burns had been criticised for having the habit of lifting his head, thereby exposing his chin. He claims that this is no longer the case and that he has been working hard on suring up his defence.
If Burns can keep out of trouble, holding Broner’s aggression at bay, he is certainly fully capable of controlling the contest, but if the American gets his counter punching style to connect, the title may very quickly change hands. In either case, it seems a fascinating contest is in store for 26th November.
Update
It has been announced that Burns has decided to relinquish his Super-Featherweight title and move up a division to Lightweight. He made the decision as he was finding it difficult to keep below the 130lbs mark.
His first fight at the new weight will be against interim WBO Lightweight champion Michael Katsidis in Glasgow.
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