By Eric Thomas: It’s easy to see why Mikey Garcia (37-0, 30 KOs) picked out IBF light welterweight champion Sergey Lipinets (13-0, 10 KOs) to try and capture his 4th division world title tonight at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas.
Kiryl Relikh
Russell Jr stops Escandon; Dirrell defeats Uzcategui – Results
By Jim Dower: WBC World featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. (28-1, 17 KOs) retained his title in defeating challenger Oscar Escandon (25-3, 17 KOs) by a 7th round TKO on Saturday night in a fight televised on Showtime Championship Boxing at the MGM National Harbor Casino in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Russell Jr. hurt the 32-year-old Escandon with big left and right hand to the head that knocked him to the ropes where referee Harvey Dock was forced to stop the fight. The fight was officially stopped at 0:59 of round 7.
Russell-Escandon & Dirrell-Uzcategui weights
By Jim Dower: WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. (27-1, 16 KOs) weighed in at 125 1/2 pounds at Friday’s weigh-in for his title defense against fringe contender Oscar Escandon (25-2, 17 KOs) this Saturday night at the MGM National Harbor, in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Escandon weighed in 125 ¾ pounds. Showtime Championship Boxing will be televising the card.
Hatton: Relikh did enough to beat Burns
By Scott Gilfoid: Trainer Ricky Hatton believes that his fighter Kiryl Relikh (21-1, 19 KOs) did enough to deserve a narrow 12 round unanimous decision against WBA World 140lb champion Ricky Burns (41-5-1, 14 KOs) last Saturday night at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland. Like a lot of boxing fans, Hatton was absolutely shocked at the dreadful scores handed down by the three judges that worked the fight.
Here are the score from the three judges: Raul Caiz Sr.116-112, Jesus Cova 118-110, and Terry O’Connor 116-112. Here is the score from Gilfoid: 112-112 for Relikh. With the blown call on the knockdown that occurred in the 12th round in which Burns was dropped, I would have had my score even wider for Relikh, but the referee Howard John Foster missed the knockdown.
Hearn wants Burns-Broner in December
By Scott Gilfoid: Following a very, very controversial win over Kiryl Relikh (21-1, 19 KOs) last Friday night, Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn says he’d like to have his fighter WBA light welterweight champion Ricky Burns (41-5-1, 14 KOs) defend his title against American Adrien Broner fight for December in Las Vegas, Nevada if possible.
Hearn thinks it’ll be a huge fight, and he believes it needs to be made. The only question is Hearn’s mind is whether Burns’ damaged eardrum will allow him to take the fight. Burns suffered the injury early in his questionable 12 round unanimous decision win over the 26-year-old Relikh at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.
Burns talks Relikh and Broner fights
By Scott Gilfoid: Moments after winning a HIGHLY controversial 12 round unanimous decision against the big punching Kiryl Relikh (21-1, 19 KOs) on Friday night, WBA World light welterweight champion Ricky Burns (41-5-1, 14 KOs) was reveling about his win, and already squawking about wanting to fight American Adrien “The Problem” Broner. Burns, 33, says he’ll take the fight with Broner, and he would even come to the U.S to face him, as long as the “money is right.” That’s the entire problem.
Broner vs. Burns would likely not sell in the U.S. You put that fight on pay-per-view, and I doubt that it would even interest casual boxing fans if it were televised on regular Showtime. Burns is an unknown with casual fans of the sport.
Ricky Burns vs. Kiryl Relikh results
By Scott Gilfoid: WBA World light welterweight champion Ricky Burns (41-5-1, 14 Kos) defeated #1 WBA challenger Kiryl Relikh (21-1, 19 KOs) by a controversial 12 round unanimous decision on Friday night at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland. The judges scored the fight 118-110, 116-112, and 116-112 for Burns. Relikh had Burns hurt in the 11th and 12th rounds. Burns was gassed, hurt and totally ineffective in the last two rounds of the contest. You can argue that Burns was done after the 8th, because Relikh swept rounds 9 through 12 on my scorecard. If you count those four rounds with the first two rounds, then Relikh deserved a draw. But I had Relikh winning other rounds as well, so he should have won. Relikh did win and quite easily in my opinion.
Relikh will beat Burns tonight, says Hatton
By Scott Gilfoid: If trainer Ricky Hatton gets his wish, unbeaten #1 WBA challenger Kiryl Relikh (21-0, 19 KOs) will send WBA World light welterweight champion Ricky Burns (40-5-1, 14 KOs) skittering down to defeat tonight in their match at The SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland. Hatton thinks the 26-year-old Relikh will break some hearts tonight by beating the hometown fighter Burns. Relikh is a NATURAL light welterweight unlike Burns, who has slowly eaten his way into the division. Power-wise, Burns is more of a super featherweight. He doesn’t have a light welterweight frame like Relikh.
Hatton just hopes that after Relikh beats Burns, he’ll be able to keep his many fans in Scotland. Relikh has the punching power, size and the youth to whip Burns like Dejan Zlaticanin did two years ago in 2014. The only question is does Relikh have the boxing skills and the talent to do the job.
Burns vs. Relikh official weights
By Scott Gilfoid: Ricky Burns (40-5-1, 14 KOs) made weight on Thursday in coming in at 139.2 pounds for his title defense against #1 WBA challenger Kiryl Relikh (21-0, 19 KOs) for their match this Friday night at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland. The young lion Relikh weighed in at 140lbs at the light welterweight limit. Of the two, I’d say Relikh looked to be the healthier, more youthful and ready for combat on Friday night.
We already know that Relikh has the better punching power of the two, so there’s no arguing about that. The only thing we don’t know about Relikh is whether he can score a knockout over the 33-year-old Burns, because he may need one.
Ricky Burns not worried about Relikh’s power
By Scott Gilfoid: Kiryl Relikh (21-0, 19 KOs) has got the most impressive knockout percentage of any opponent Ricky Burns (40-5-1, 14 KOs) has ever faced before in his career, but he’s not worried about his power. The two fighters will be facing each other on Friday night at The SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.
Burns, 33, will be defending his WBA World light welterweight title for the first time. Burns is expected to be able to successfully defend his belt. The reason for that is Relikh doesn’t have the experience to fighting for a world title, even against an aging fighter like Burns, who clearly has seen better days in his career.