WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns (35-2, 10KOs) went face to face with undefeated mandatory challenger Jose Gonzalez (22-0, 17KOs). The collide this Saturday at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland. Photos by Joel Colon.
http://www.boxingscene.com/photos-ricky-burns-jose-gonzalez-go-face-face–65311
(Photo credit: PR Best Boxing Promotions/Joel Colon) By Scott Gilfoid: WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns (35-2, 10 KO’s) will be making his third defense of his World Boxing Organization 135 pound title this Saturday night against the big punching Jose A Gonzalez (22-0, 17 KO’s) at the Emirates Arena, in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
The 30-year-old Burns will be getting his first taste of power since his clinch-filled 12 round decision over Michael Katsidis two years ago in London.
Since then, Burns has had two easy fights against light hitters Kevin Mitchell and Paulus Moses. Gonzalez, 29, is a much bigger puncher than Katsidis or Burns’ biggest hitting opponent to date Roman Martinez, and he’s got huge, huge power in either hand.
Gonzalez, from Puerto Rico, can punch right through guards, so if Burns is going to employ the rope and dope strategy that he used in his fight against Katsidis then I’m afraid he’s going to take a tremendous amount of punishment because you really can’t block Gonzalez’s shots because the power that he has.
The only way to try and survive against Gonzalez is to duck, dodge and run from him because if he hits you anywhere on your body you’re going to be in serious trouble.
Gonzalez is definitely the biggest puncher in the lightweight division by far and that includes WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner.
I expect that Burns will use his old arm bar and clinch techniques to keep from getting nailed by Gonzalez, but I don’t think it’s going to work.
I’ve seen some of Gonzalez’s fights where his opponents tried to hold down one of his arms the way that Burns likes to do and he kept nailing them with HUGE right hands.
Gonzalez is able to generate tremendous power even in close, so grabbing and holding one of his arms isn’t going to save Burns from punishment.
Likewise, using excellent clinches to try and tie Gonzalez up won’t work as well because he works during clinches. He doesn’t just give up passively and let his opponents survive or get rest breaks from his punishment.
Gonzalez is coming into this fight with a four-fight knockout streak that dates back to 2011. He’s stopped Alejandro Rodriguez, Oscar Cuero, Joseph Laryea and Hevinson Herrera in impressive fashion.
Burns is going to have problems taking his shots because he tends to like to slug with his opponents, but with Gonzalez you can’t do that because he hits so incredibly hard. He’ll literally punch a giant hole through Burns if he tries to slug with him.
By Scott Gilfoid: –
WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns (35-2, 10 KO’s) is flying blind going into his title defense this month against unbeaten #1 WBO Jose Gonzalez (22-0, 17 KO’s) on May 11th at the Emirates Arena, in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Burns, 30, has seen very little of Gonzalez’s fights because there’s so little footage out there for him.
This means that Burns is stepping into the unknown against the hard hitting Puerto Rican Gonzalez, and that’s not what you want when you’re a light puncher like Burns because Gonzalez has the kind of power where he can take the judges out of the picture by knocking Burns out and rendering Burns’ hometown advantage meaningless.
Burns said to fightnews.com “His knockout ratio doesn’t concern me at all, When I fought [Roman] Martinez he was knocking everybody out and after the first round when I got caught clean I was fine.”
There’s a big difference between the weight drained Roman Martinez and the hard hitting Gonzalez in terms of power. Martinez was weight drained when he fought Burns three years ago in losing by a close 12 round unanimous decision in Scotland. Gonzalez won’t be weight drained and he’s a much harder puncher with either hand compared to Martinez.
The fights I’ve seen of his, I’ve been very impressed with his power. Gonzalez doesn’t have to throw many punches to knock his opponents out. He generally lands one big shot with either hand and his opponents are in deep trouble.
You can say that Gonzalez’s opposition hasn’t been that great, but you can also say the same thing about Burns. He’s faced some pretty awful fighters even while he’s held the WBO super featherweight and lightweight titles.
Gonzalez’s best opponents thus far are Joseph Laryea, Eddie Soto, and Fernando Trejo. Gonzalez destroyed Laryea in a 3rd round TKO last year in July. This is the same fighter that Burns stopped in the 7th round. As you can see, Gonzalez took him out much faster than Burns. That suggests that Gonzalez has major power that could give Burns a lot of trouble.
The thing with Burns is he does a heck of a lot of holding and running when facing a big puncher. Look at his wins over Michael Katsidis and Paulus Moses. Burns was all over both of them, holding on for dear life, and running like no tomorrow.
It was so painful to watch both of those fights because you’re just wondering why the referees were letting Burns hold so much without taking off points in both fights. If you were to make a film in how to not fight, those fights would be perfect examples because those were good fights to get you ready to go to sleep or turn the channel to something more interesting.
http://www.boxingnews24.com/2013/05/burns-not-worried-about-jose-gonzalezs-power/
Ricky Burns insists he will not even consider a world title unification fight with Adrien Broner until he sees his way past Jose Gonzalez.
It was announced yesterday that the WBO lightweight champion will face unbeaten Puerto Rican Gonzalez in Glasgow on May 11.
The WBO insisted that Burns take on their mandatory challenger or face losing his strap – ending any immediate hopes of a super fight with WBC champion Broner.
The American is now due to move up two divisions to take on WBA welterweight belt holder Paulie Malignaggi on June 22 but there are still hopes that Burns and Broner can square off in future.
Burns, however, is not looking that far ahead.
He said: “At the moment, I can’t look beyond this fight. I never look beyond an opponent. I’ve got to give this guy what he’s due. He’s not the mandatory challenger for nothing.
“There is talk of Adrien Broner moving up to 147 to fight Paulie Malignaggi. We don’t know if he will stay at his current weight or what. I just need to get past May 11 first.”
Burns has not fought since beating Kevin Mitchell in September last year after his last two fights were called off at short notice.
A scheduled bout with Miguel Vazquez next month was axed after he split with former promoter Frank Warren, after the initial date was postponed, while a date with Jose Ocampo in December was also called off at short notice too.
But the Coatbridge fighter – whose fight with Gonzalez is his first since linking up with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport promotions company – insists his extended lay-off will not affect him by the time fight night arrives.
He said: “Although the fights were cancelled, it is not as if I’ve been out of the gym or stopped my training. I was always preparing for the fights and it was then that they were called off at late notice.
“After that it was just a case of taking a break, letting the batteries recharge and then getting back in the gym.
“We started back training last week and it will be six weeks on Saturday until the fight. So whatever happens, I’ll be ready to go.”
Burns is already a two-weight world champion after moving up from super featherweight but plans to move to light-welterweight are at least two years off, he says.
“A lot of people have been talking and saying that I have been struggling to make the weight, asking if I’m going to move up to light-welterweight,” said the 29-year-old.
“But for now I’m definitely staying at lightweight. I’m going nowhere. There are a couple of big fights out there, the unification fights, that I am confident I can win.
“So for the next couple of years anyway I will definitely be staying at lightweight.”
http://www.boxingscene.com/burns-full-focus-on-gonzalez-not-thinking-broner–63792
VAZQUEZ: I’LL BE RUTHLESS LIKE HERNANDEZ
Mexican hitman Miguel Vazquez says he’ll be as deadly as fellow countryman and Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez when he faces WBO World Lightweight Champion Ricky Burns at Wembley Arena.
Vazquez, the IBF World Champion, puts his title on the line against Burns’ belt in a big unification clash on Saturday 16th March that also features stars Nathan Cleverly, George Groves, Dereck Chisora* and Liam Walsh, all live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546)
Hernandez, currently the only Mexican playing in the Premier League, hails from Guadalajara – the same as Vazquez.
Since arriving at the Red Devils in 2010 “Chicharito” has terrorized defences with his speed and accuracy, hitting the net 46 times. He fired home twice in Saturday’s FA Cup match against Fulham.
And Vazquez has promised to make it a Mexican treble by battering the Scotsman and taking his belt.
“When I fight Burns I will be just like Hernandez, a cold and ruthless assassin. There will be no remorse when I’m taking Burns apart,” Said Vazquez.
“Hernandez is a hero in Mexico, I saw the match on Saturday and I said that is what I have to be like to beat Burns,”
“A striker and a boxer have the same mind set, a striker has to have to the killer instinct to score, the boxer to land a knockout punch, when the opening comes against Burns that will be the end for him.”
Vazquez isn’t worried about facing Burns who destroyed rival Kevin Mitchell in four rounds last time out. Vazquez was the first man to beat hammer-hitting Breidis Prescott after the Colombian destroyed Amir Khan inside a round.
He added, “Burns is a good fighter, he is strong, he has good skills and he knocked out Kevin Mitchell which was impressive,”
“But he has never faced a fighter like me before. I’m unbeaten as a world champion at lightweight. I beat a huge puncher in Prescott and he didn’t hurt me, I don’t see how Burns can hurt me,”
“I will be Ricky Burns’ worst nightmare. I’m coming for his world title, his title is as good as mine.”
Burns v Vazquez joint-headlines a blockbuster show with WBO World Light-Heavyweight Champion Nathan Cleverly’s title defence against Robin Krasniqi, plus George Groves challenging for the Vacant European Super-Middleweight title, heavyweight Dereck Chisora* and Commonwealth Super-Featherweight Champion Liam Walsh, live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546).
http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=61901
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Ricky Burns believes he can continue to show improvement as he prepares for his seventh world title fight.
The 29-year-old stunned the boxing world when he beat Roman Martinez to claim the WBO super-featherweight title two years ago. And Burns showed again he saves his best performances for the biggest stage when he comprehensively outfought Michael Katsidis to claim the WBO lightweight title at Wembley last year.
The Coatbridge fighter faces another serious test on Saturday night against Kevin Mitchell, whose only defeat came against Katsidis in 2010. Burns believes is a more confident boxer now and thinks he will rise to the occasion again. The Scot said: “I’ve always said, the better the opponent in front of me, the better I’m going to perform.”
He added: “I think Saturday is another one of those occasions. I think people are going to see improvements on my last fight. The last few fights I have been getting better and better so hopefully I can go out there and do the business.
“I have just been getting a lot more confident and a lot more physically stronger as well. I couldn’t be happier with the way preparation went. We started sparring right at the start so I’m ready to go for a hard 12 rounds.”
Although there are some tickets left, Burns is set to fight in front of almost 10,000 fans in Glasgow, most of whom will be in his corner. But he prefers to shun the limelight and sees no added pressure in pleasing his home crowd.
“It is getting easier to deal with, but me being me, it just doesn’t bother me,” he said.
“I try not to let the occasion get to me. I’m basically just going out there to do my job.
“I am 100% ready for it, whatever happens on the night I am going to be ready to deal with it.
“I’m playing the waiting game now, I just want to go in there and get on with it.”
Press Association
This Saturday night WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns (34-2, 9 KO’s) will be making his second defense of his title against fellow Brit Kevin Mitchell (33-1, 24 KO’s) at the Scottish Exhibition Centre, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
This is going to be hometown advantage for the 29-year-old Burns, although Mitchell fans swear up and down that Mitchell will get a fair shake when it comes to the judging in the fight.
Whatever. I’m not so worried about the judging for the fight. What I’m worried about is the referee keeping control of the action to make sure that Burns doesn’t end up clinching Mitchell into submission. The last couple of fights I’ve seen of Burns have been god awful filled with clinching and dull action. Boring stuff.
Burns’ last fight against Paulus Moses last March was one in which I thought Burns should have been penalized and/or disqualified for all the clinching he did in that fight. What I didn’t understand was why on earth did Burns waste time clinching this guy? It’s not as if Moses had huge knockout power or anything. As far as I can tell the only dangerous thing about Moses was his nice jab. That’s about it. Why clinch a guy repeatedly when the don’t have much power?
Mitchell hasn’t been looking all that great lately. He looked decent in taking out John Murray last year in July in stopping him in the 8th, but then he looked terrible against Felix Lora last February in beating him by a 10 round decision. Lora was landing his pot shots all night long, and Mitchell looked pretty helpless.
So as far as this Saturday night goes, I think Mitchell needs to have his inside fighting skills ready so that he can tag Burns in the puss each time he grabs him in a clinch and tries to smother Mitchell’s offense. That’s how you take care of Burns. You can’t just let him clinch like that without making him pay each time.
PROUD Scot WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns has been getting in the mood for his fight against Kevin Mitchell by watching the Scottish national rugby team’s 1990 victory.
WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns has warned rival Kevin Mitchell: Scrum and have a go if you think you’re hard enough.
The proud Scot defends his belt against Essex boy Mitchell at Glasgow’s SECC on September 22.
And he has been getting in the mood by watching the Scottish rugby team’s famous 13-7 Grand Slam win over the Auld Enemy at Murrayfield in 1990.
Burns said: “As Scottish sports fans know, that win by our national team in 1990 at Murrayfield is probably one of our biggest and most famous wins to date against the English.
“Although I was only seven at the time I remember the passion of the Scottish players and what it meant to win a match in which they were the underdogs.
“They showed real fighting spirit and everyone still remembers and talks about the win today.
“My dad still has a video of the match and just seeing it stirred up the passion in me to beat Mitchell next month.
“Seeing the iconic images of David Sole leading out the Scottish team to battle and the singing of the Flower of Scotland really got me choked up. The only other time I feel like this is when I watch Rocky IV.”
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/boxing/ricky-burns-prepares-to-take-on-kevin-1285136
World Boxing Organization (WBO) World Lightweight Champion Ricky Burns and challenger Kevin Mitchell may be good friends, but that isn’t stopping them promise to put on one of the most brutal fights in recent years.
The pair clash in the big domestic showdown on Saturday 22nd September at the SECC in Glasgow, live and exclusive on the home of TV boxing BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546).
Two-time and two-weight world champion Burns will put friendship aside and be ruthless in the fight, “Come fight night once we step into the ring the friendship is over, this is business time,” he said.
Cockney scrapper Mitchell is looking to finally win the world title and is confident he can beat his friend, “You can’t beat Ricky’s personality, he’s a lovely man and a mate of mine. We genuinely get on well and there won’t be any trash talking. But once we get in the ring we fight, that’s our job. I’ve wanted this fight for a long time now and Ricky has given me the chance. I’m determined to win it, but I know I’m in for a hard night’s work.”
Here are some more boxers who have put fighting before friendship:
JOE CALZAGHE v RICHIE WOODHALL (WBO World Super-Middleweight title)
In the build up to their ‘Battle of Britain’ in December 2000, Joe Calzaghe and Richie Woodhall stopped off for a cup of tea at a motorway service station in-between press conferences. The fight was made harder as their fathers and trainers Enzo and Len were also good friends. That didn’t stop WBO World Super-Middleweight Champion Calzaghe putting on a vicious performance to stop Woodhall in the 10th round of an exciting battle at the Sheffield Arena.
KEVIN MITCHELL v JOHN MURRAY (WBO Intercontinental Lightweight title)
Before Kevin Mitchell’s mouthwatering domestic lightweight clash with rival John Murray in July last year, he said that he and Murray were good mates from their amateur days and came close to fighting then. They eventually met as pros at the Liverpool Echo Arena with Mitchell putting on his best ever performance to stop the previously unbeaten Murray in the eighth round to win the WBO Intercontinental Lightweight title.
Burns v Mitchell will be televised live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546). Join now at www.boxnation.com
Tickets, priced at £50, £75, £100, £150 and £200, are available from Eventim on 0844 249 1000 or online at eventim.co.uk and Ticket Soup on 0844 295 4000 or ticketSOUP.com
By Miguel RiveraThe winner of the lightweight battle between Ricky Burns and Michael Katsidis, will fall in line for a shot at WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez. The sanctioning body issued a ruling at their annual convention in Puerto Rico, that Marquez would have to face the Burns-Katsidis.
The fight depends on the outcome of Marquez’s trilogy bout, set for November 12 in Las Vegas, with WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao. It also depends on whether or not Marquez, win or lose with Pacquiao, returns to the lightweight division.
Burns and Katsidis will battle for the vacant WBO interim title on November 5th at Wembley Arena in London. If Marquez decides to continue his career above 135-pounds, the winner of Burns-Katsidis would become the full champion.
Marquez already faced Katsidis in 2010, where the Mexican boxer got off the floor in the third round to stop the tough Australian in the ninth.
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