By Adam Foy: Since beating Roman Martinez for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Super Featherweight title on an inspired night in October 2010 Ricky Burns has never looked back. Armed with the belief that his world title has given him Burns has improved hugely and proved the doubters wrong at every turn. Last night, stepping up to Lightweight to face the dangerous Michael Katsidis, Burns found himself with the familiar “underdog” tag yet again and yet again the popular Scot defied the odds.

From the first round Burns established a jab that would win him every long range exchange of the fight whilst Katsidis, very much in character, would push forward with aggression and try to do damage up close. This pattern, which lasted the entire fight, seemed to suit Burns who was quite happy to concede ground when necessary and cover up, leaving Katsidis hammering away at arms and gloves. Burns had to weather many a storm throughout the night but did so in relative comfort and always seemed to be able to slip out the side door and fire out that jab again to regain control of the fight. As would be expected, Katsidis continued to try and force the issue and Burns had to keep focus right until the end.

At the final bell the body language of the fighters said it all as Ricky Burns, wearing that trademark smile, was carried around the ring with arms aloft while Michael Katsidis made no pretense at having won the fight.
Burns won the fight by Unanimous decision; 117-112, 117-111 and 117-111 on three judges’ scorecards.

Katsidis, as always, showed the heart that earned him his “Warrior” nickname but with 3 defeats in his last 4 fights you begin to wonder if all those tough fights are beginning to take their toll. Yes those defeats were all to top level fighters but that “Warrior” style has a limited life span and I wonder how many top level fights he has left in him?

As for Ricky Burns and his trainer Billy Nelson, the two are proving a tough team to beat and they’ll be looking for another big challenge to overcome. Over the last two years Ricky has grown in to a top level fighter and whoever steps into the ring with him next will be in for a tough nights work. I just hope now that Ricky will get the respect people have seemed so reluctant to give him.