Burns v Beltran on September 7th

By Stevie Ocallaghan - 06/22/2013 - Comments

burns433By Stevie Ocallaghan: According to Scottish Television (STV) WBO Lightweight champ Ricky Burns is to defend his belt against Mexican Raymundo Beltran on September 7th at the SECC in Glasgow.

Beltran 28-6 with 17 KOs has been fighting at a decent level having lost a tight decision against the tough Ugandan Sharif Bogere, then winning a close matchup against Hank Lundy.

Beltran also out pointed the tough Ji-Hoon Kim who himself fought against Miguel Vasquez for the vacant IBF belt back in 2010. Beltran is the long term sparring partner of Manny Paquiao at Freddie Roach’s gym.

Beltran at 5’8″ and with a 68″ reach is 2″ shorter in height and reach than Burns and that could be a factor.

Burns 36-2 with 11 stoppages is not a huge puncher but is big and strong for the weight. Burns has also been in with some very good fighters. When he got the decision against Roman Martinez in 2010 he had to get up off the floor in the first round. Let’s not forget Martinez went on to reclaim the WBO super featherweight belt and has successfully defended it twice.

The Aussie Michael Katsidis has been in with many good fighters even dropping Juan Manuel Marquez. He also went the distance with Robert Guerrero who has just recently lost to Floyd Mayweather.

Namibian banger Paulus Moses has , since losing to Burns went on to defeat two former world champs. But Burns’s last fight was his toughest fight and in getting the win against Jose A Gonzalez showed that it takes more than just throwing punches to win. Burns went to hell and back in that fight and still came out the winner against the biggest hitter in the division. For me Gonzalez will go on and be a great world champ.

Gonzalez fight before Burns was against Mexican fighter Alejandro Rodriguez and the Puerto Rican ko’ed Rodriguez in 5. Beltran could only win on points against the Mexican.

Whatever you think of Burns, and there are many from across the pond who are very negative about him, he is a two wight world champion and will have been champ for three full years by the time the fight comes along. Not to bad for someone who, according to some, certainly not me, has no talent.
I think Burns can get a late stoppage and with a hugely patriotic crowd behind him, I think he knows that too.



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