By Stevie Ocallaghan: After some dialogue between two current lightweight belt holders , there is a possibility that WBA champ Richard Abril and WBO champ Ricky Burns could get a unification bout set up later in the year. This would be a great fight.

Cuban born Abril 18-3 with 8 stoppages has lost all 3 fights on split decision against at the time undefeated fighters. All three fights where highly debatable results. Abril at 5’9″ and a 72″ reach would give Burns a lot of problems but unlike Burns last opponent in Jose Gonzalez doesn’t have the same kind of power.

Most Cuban fighters have a similar style of fighting, all very classy fighters with fast hands and Abril is no different. Most analysts thought that Brandon Rios was lucky to get the s/d win against him.

Ricky Burns 36-2 with 11 stoppages and standing 5’10” is probably the biggest fighter in the lightweight division. I don’t mean height wise but the actual size he rehydrates to. He gets back up to jr middleweight size. Burns has started to show more power in his last couple of fights, but the one thing he has really shown is heart and guts. Under the cosh against arguably the better fighter in Jose Gonzalez, Burns managed to somehow turn the tide against probably the divisions biggest puncher around and actually started to back Gonzalez up in which was a tremendous fight.

Burns has limited boxing skills but has the heart and will of a fighter who believes he can’t be beat and that is a tremendous attribute that not all fighters have. I believe Burns could nick it on points in what would be a close fight. Because both guys aren’t recognized as big punchers this fight will probably go the distance and I think because of fitness, work rate and desire I think Burns will shade it by two rounds but it’s a great matchup and one I hope gets made