Burns vs. Beltran: The Rematch

By Robbie Bannatyne - 09/12/2013 - Comments

By Robbie Bannatyne: I recently submitted an article about how Ricky Burns must ‘Abandon a Rematch with Beltran’ on the premise that Beltran, although thoroughly deserving of a rematch, was just too dangerous an opponent for Burns to once again risk his title against, especially after suffering a broken jaw in their 1st clash.

This conviction attracted a lot of consternation in the comments from readers who vented their ‘rage’ and insisted that I was talking, as one reader put it, succinctly, ‘a lot bollocks!’

He may have had a point.

But, as a writer, I am duty bound to raise issues of contention and present arguments that may result in a backlash from readers due to the controversial content. My piece the other day was a classic case of playing Devil’s Advocate.

And rather than trying to provoke and anger people, I was simply trying to gauge the opinions and emotions of fight fans in the aftermath of the hotly disputed decision draw, which allowed Burns to miraculously hold onto his title, in spite of Beltran being the clear winner in the eyes of anyone, including myself, who was inside the SECC arena last Saturday.

I make no apologies for the article. In fact I don’t give expletive. And judging by the appallingly awful way some people tried- and failed- to articulate their counter-argument in the comments section, I really shouldn’t give a expletive either.

Instead, I will once stoke the fire and risk the ire of some more illiterate loon ball’s by presenting this article in an entirely different angle, one which I hope will provoke discussion among the discerning fight fans of Boxing News 24, with regards to the potential outcome of a rematch between Ricky Burns and Raymundo Beltran.

Raymundo was robbed in Glasgow, pure and simple.

So in order to avoid another miscarriage of justice, the 32 year old Mexican stated,

“I fight anybody but I want to fight in a fair place, I want to fight in America. Let’s do it in America, I think I deserve a chance.”

He certainly does deserve another chance. Fortunately for Beltran, Burns and his camp are avowed in their acknowledgement that he should have been awarded the winner of the 1st clash. On the other hand, they are just as stoic when stating any rematch will go ahead on their terms, and their terms only. Well you can’t start dishing out World Titles on sentiment, can you?

Alex Morrison, the manager of Ricky Burns, told the BBC Sport, “Ricky wants to fight him again here in Scotland in front of another packed crowd.

“But it will only take place here in Scotland.”

“If Beltran wants a rematch, he’ll have to come here again.”

So Beltran has no choice but to sail against the tide all the way across the Atlantic once more if he wants to become a World Champion.

But next time, I suspect it won’t only be the judge’s who will openly try and undermine his tilt at the World Title. No, this time he will face a fresh Ricky Burns for the whole fight. Not the inhibited, handicapped fighter who was unable to initiate fire due to a broken jaw he suffered in the second round.

Beltran was dominant throughout the fight, and was consistently the aggressor but a lot of punches were protected by the excellent guard of the Champion. Whereas the ‘Rickster’, when fighting from long range, was able to pick Beltran off at will with his jab, which on occasion he used effectively to set up power punch combinations. His major problem was that Beltran, sensing that his opponents attacking prowess was sufficiently blunted due to the injury, simply stalked him and bullied him onto the ropes time and again.

Yet in spite of Burns being in survival mode for the majority of the fight Beltran was still unable to finish his man. I propose his composed performance was homage to Burns ability to sustain a barrage of punishment but still not buckle, and that the trepidation he showed when attacking was out of fear of punching himself out the way Jose Gonzalez did in Burns last bout.

Did Beltran learn too much about Burns coming into the fight? Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. But he has certainly learned not to place his fate in the hands of the judges next time.

And for this reason, I expect an emboldened Beltran and a back to full health Ricky Burns to set the heather alight in their World Title rematch when the time comes.



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