By Gav Duthie: The WBO ratings in the lightweight division are starting to take shape as Diego Magdaleno 27-1(11) faces former WBO title challenger Jose A Gonzalez 24-1(19) in an eliminator bout on June 26 in Hidalgo, Texas. The title at present is vacant after Raymundo Beltran couldn’t make weight when he stopped Takahiro Ao in a vacant title bout. Another fight has been scheduled between Brit Terry Flanagan and Mexican Jose Zepeda. One could argue that the eliminator bout is of a higher quality but time will tell.
Jose Gonzalez
The last 6 performances of Ricky Burns he hasn’t been at his best and this all started in Glasgow on May 2013 against the Puerto Rican Gonzalez. Ricky turned the fight around in round 7 when the challenger was going for the stoppage. Burns took his heart and he retired two rounds later with a suspected broken hand but he seemed a spent force despite dominating most of the fight. In my opinion he did a better job boxing Burns than Beltran, Zlaticanin or even rising superstar Terrence Crawford up until his crisis of confidence. He clearly has power but it took him the better part of 19 months to return to the ring. He has won two easy fights since but Diego Magdaleno will present a strong challenge.
Diego Magdaleno
Diego is the older and arguably slightly less talented brother of Super Bantamweight prospect Jesse Magdaleno. Diego, alias Mr. Superb has also only lost once at world title level when he was out muscled by current world champion Roman Martinez. He has been on a good comeback streak since and if he could beat ‘Chelo’ Gonzalez I would expect him to become a world champion over Flanagan or Zepeda.
A must look good fight
Also on the card is Super Middleweight contender Gilberto Ramirez. Despite being ranked WBC #2, WBA #3, IBF #3 and WBO #2 the Mexican seems to rarely be mentioned when it comes to title shots. He fights Derek Edwards who is still ranked #9 with the WBC because he knocked out current champion Badou Jack in only one round. Edwards lost a lop sided eliminator fight for the IBF to Andre Dirrell but he will obviously be targeting a rematch with Jack now for a higher prize. Ramirez now undefeated in over 30 fights didn’t look great in his last outing either and will be looking to add to his list of impressive knockouts before likely facing the Groves-Jack winner or Fedor Chudinov at the end of 2015 or early 2016.
Predictions
Gonzalez UD 12
Ramirez TKO 7-9
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