Just Saying, Just Asking

Did Ricky Burns look incredibly amateur, at times?

I love Ricky Burns, a gentleman, a British Champ, and a man who always tries to entertain.

The improvements he's made over recent years have been amazing. Much like recently crowned IBF Champ Jamie Mcdonnell (despite no one seeing it).

However, Ricky was really over reaching in that fight, and was clubbed almost every time he stepped forward. The pivots, hooks, power and variation of Gonzalez made Ricky's straights look, well, after a while, a little sign-posted? Nice to see some uppers from both fighters though.

I just wonder where Ricky goes from here? Another slick, back foot fighter with a similar style could well beat him. Vasquez has that style minus the power, I hear.

Anyway, my hope is Ricky learns. He's a great student of the game and does learn well so I'm sure he can. Eddie said his opponents style was 'all wrong' for Ricky. But at elite/world level there are plenty of fighters with the style of hit and don't get hit.

P.S. Anyone got the final punch stats? At one point, around the 6th, Burns had only landed 8%.

EEK.

P.P.S. I'm on my holidays by a pool writing this. Hard work.... dedication.... baby.

Not sure how much footage was available of Gonzalez. According to the Burns camp they could only find his knockout reel which made him look like a come forward fighter. That said he got frustrated very easily.

Not sure if its amateurish, just that his style is very textbook. He's a bit robotic, uses a high guard to block instead of slip, likes to fire straight shots and like most textbook fighters, if they can't set up he jab they lose most of their impetuous and offensive/defensive shape which was the case against Gonzales

There wasn't hardly any footage on Gonzales, and looming at his record you probably thought that he will come out like Prescott Mk II, swinging for the fences trying to land his power. That just wasn't the case and his cagey style threw Burns

Add that he was trying to impress for the fans and trying to impress Hearn, he got frustrated early

I have never rated burns too highly and always though that Broner, Vasquez and Abril would all beat him handily because of his style and I think that more than ever now

We all know he can fight better than he did on Saturday.

He hasnt had it easy over the last 6 or so months with Frank Warren mishandling his career.

He needed a big wake up call on Saturday and got it. He still showed amazing heart on Saturday. If that had of been any other lightweight in the country they would have went down in that 7th round and probably not got back up.

But he made sure he was going to fight to the death to keep that belt.

Fair play to him.

Boxers have the odd blip, thankfully Burns' didnt end in a defeat. I look forward to September to see him again. His fights are nearly always exciting so I dont see what the problem is.

I thought the Puerto Rican was a revelation, made Ricky look bad. Look forward to seeing him compete at world level again.

TopHat24/7 wrote:I thought the Puerto Rican was a revelation, made Ricky look bad. Look forward to seeing him compete at world level again.

He did look great but his legs were like 2 pencils. His obvious flaw now is if you keep the pressure on him he will surely tire.

At 29 I can't see him making a splash at lightweight. He was friar tucked after 7 rounds against Burns, what would happen against the likes of Broner, Vasquez, DeMarco, Abril etc.

He embarrased himself on Saturday by quitting the way he did, and I think that will have an impact on his mentality in future World Level fights.

the clips i managed to find of gonzalez, showed a come forward banger with fast hands, but one who was wide open. I figured if burns survived the onslaught he'd be able to pick him off and counter, but it was a different kind of fight.

Maybe no other footage exists, maybe gonzalez had done his research and re-invented himself for 1 fight. However, it does at least raise a question re your professionalism, if you know so little about your opponent. If they were genuinely shocked by gonzalez, they should be asking questions of themselves.

Can't imagine it's easy finding footage of some fighters, because we live in Britain we're used to everyone being filmed. Also the few films people get a hold of don't always give the full picture, Burns looked like he had over trained to me, was in camp a while.

Burns should take the biggest fight he can next because he won't go far.

All that talk about Broner its obvious Broner would destroy him.

Ricky has gone far, two time Champ with two or three nice wins on his record. But can he go further?

The Broner fight is a bit of nonsense to be honest.

Its been said he walks around at around 154 between fights and is now going to be fighting for a belt at 147 so why the hell is he still being mentioned as an opponent against Burns????

A year or two ago when he was fighting at SFW (coming in too heavy as well) and moving slightly up to lightweight.

The guy is a lower weight Chavez Jr, picking up opponents who are realistically about 3 weight divisions below him.

Lets see how he gets on against a fighter his own size first before we start shouting about him fighting against fighters who are smaller than him again.

davidemore wrote:Ricky has gone far, two time Champ with two or three nice wins on his record. But can he go further?

He has improved a lot and done very well for the talent he has. Can't see him ever being the bonified numero uno at LW, but Hearn will get him paid and until he faces an Abrilesque type, he can remain champ.

A fight against Vasquez would be good. Abril would win every round, can't see Hearn going anywhere near that fight.

David is right though. Burns has a fantastic career and showed that losing doesnt mean the end.

A defeat by Carl Johanneson and Alez Arthur types these days would have most people saying a fighter is finished. But Burns has turned his career round and he deserves a lot of credit to become a 2 weight world champion.

Reborn-DeeMcK-Reborn wrote:A fight against Vasquez would be good. Abril would win every round, can't see Hearn going anywhere near that fight.

David is right though. Burns has a fantastic career and showed that losing doesnt mean the end.

A defeat by Carl Johanneson and Alez Arthur types these days would have most people saying a fighter is finished. But Burns has turned his career round and he deserves a lot of credit to become a 2 weight world champion.

Burns has had a fantastic career..............What has Froch had then..?

Enough with the hyberbole..........Makes you look like a knob.

2 division world champion isnt a fantastic career??

Who mentioned Froch??

You just made yourself look a knob in one comment.

The emphasis is on the fantastic..........

Lot's of pointless champions these days and titles..........Duke Mckenzie beat three stiffs for three world titles and no one rates him.....

Burns has never beaten anybody If we are honest...Katsidis had nothing left..

Let's leave fantastic for those that deserve it...

Are you forgetting the Rocky Martinez fight, Truss?

You're making out like he's Nathan Clev or something!

Tony Bellew is a good win.........

Burns has much to be proud about........My slight moan is for all this fantastic stuff..........

Calzaghe had a great career.........perhaps even fantastic....

Perspective......

No, I meant re Burns. Martinez is 10 times better than anything Clev has done especially as it meant winning the belt from an unbeaten champ not just being handed it paper-style.

I'll concede Martinez was half decent..Not in the Azumah Nelson super-feather league..

His draw with Burgos suggesting he's tad short of world class..

Will also concede I don't generally rate the WBO crowns much..

So you don't like the word "fantastic"??

His win over Mitchell was still a good win as well as Katsidas who, yes a come forward punchbag is still dangerous and game as Mitchell found out.

Anyone who wins 1 of the major belts has achieved a fantastic career as they have got to the top of a sport that is one of the toughest there is. The fact that Burns has done it at 2 different weights its great for any other fighter why not Burns?

Bit of Scottish hate Truss?

Ricky Burns can become a unified three time Champ. And we slag him off?

Reborn-DeeMcK-Reborn wrote:So you don't like the word "fantastic"??

His win over Mitchell was still a good win as well as Katsidas who, yes a come forward punchbag is still dangerous and game as Mitchell found out.

Anyone who wins 1 of the major belts has achieved a fantastic career as they have got to the top of a sport that is one of the toughest there is. The fact that Burns has done it at 2 different weights its great for any other fighter why not Burns?

Bit of Scottish hate Truss?

Scottish people aren't important to hate............just suggesting fantastic careers encompass a bit more than beating Mitchell......a half dead Katsidis........and Martinez..

davidemore wrote:Ricky Burns can become a unified three time Champ. And we slag him off?

A unified three time champ???

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:

davidemore wrote:Ricky Burns can become a unified three time Champ. And we slag him off?

A unified three time champ???

Yeh,,,,,,,,,,,was thinking the same thing....

Katsidas was a good win for everyone else, Guerrero, Marquez etc, Burns gets none...

Guerrero absolutely battered him Mate......

Was Honey a good win for Breland after Starling destroyed him?? Nope.

I'll poop down your throat TRUSS, you hate anyone 'alien'.

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:Burns should take the biggest fight he can next because he won't go far.

All that talk about Broner its obvious Broner would destroy him.

It will never happen. Burns ran like a biatch the first time and Broner is now too big to make LW it seems.

Broner needs to go to 140. Garcia may not happen as GBP are grooming him for a Mayweather fight, but you bet Judah would go in against Broner, Lucas and Peterson too. Oh, and chinny is also available.

Against Rees, Broner seem to get hit with shots he shouldn't be hit with. Rees is no speed merchant either. I'm not sold on him just yet. All style and some (not too much yet) substance.

Broner is static, always a chance when a fighter stays that still and relies on shoulder rolls solely. Mayweather didn't need his roll last fight. Come on now.

All fighters get hit in fights.........Thing is though his chin looks good...and when coupled coupled with his decent power speed and incisive combinations..

Means he's a potent adversory

Because he's American right?

You're a t*t

U.S.A, U.S.A...

Have to agree with Truss with regards to Katsidis, the JMM battering took a hell of a lot out of him and the Guerrero pasting just added to that

Broner needs to go to 140 imo, and I'm not quite sure how he's going to get on. Lets get things straight, hes no Floyd mayweather or even close to him. Floyd was a master of the shoulder roll whereas Broner hasn't the same reflexes to avoid punches or the the footwork of Floyd. One part of me thinks that he could end up like a slightly better version of Berto but at the same time his best performances have been against better opposition so maybe he performs to the standard of the opponent

I also struggle to see Bromer at 135 whether Burns wants it or not. He acts like he doesn't have problems with weight (Twinkies and drinking sprite on the scales) but he is a big guy and walks around higher than 150lbs so won't want to go down 12lbs to fight Burns who won't get him anymore money than the LWW tourney winner

WHU_Champo_League_in_7Yrs wrote:Have to agree with Truss with regards to Katsidis, the JMM battering took a hell of a lot out of him and the Guerrero pasting just added to that

Broner needs to go to 140 imo, and I'm not quite sure how he's going to get on. Lets get things straight, hes no Floyd mayweather or even close to him. Floyd was a master of the shoulder roll whereas Broner hasn't the same reflexes to avoid punches or the the footwork of Floyd. One part of me thinks that he could end up like a slightly better version of Berto but at the same time his best performances have been against better opposition so maybe he performs to the standard of the opponent

I also struggle to see Bromer at 135 whether Burns wants it or not. He acts like he doesn't have problems with weight (Twinkies and drinking sprite on the scales) but he is a big guy and walks around higher than 150lbs so won't want to go down 12lbs to fight Burns who won't get him anymore money than the LWW tourney winner

That's who he reminds me of.

davidemore wrote:Ricky Burns can become a unified three time Champ. And we slag him off?

because he is so limited

Champagne_Socialist wrote:

davidemore wrote:Ricky Burns can become a unified three time Champ. And we slag him off?

because he is so limited

At elite level maybe.

davidemore wrote:

Champagne_Socialist wrote:

davidemore wrote:Ricky Burns can become a unified three time Champ. And we slag him off?

because he is so limited

At elite level maybe.

He just got shown up by an unheard of fighter.

Burns was getting battered for over half the fight but still had it in him to push on in the later rounds and try to pull the fight back. Opponent quit like a dog and Burns is still the champ. Not a good performance by any means, and I can see him coming undone against the top guys at LW, but I have a lot of time for him.

Well said Joey.

Ali was unknown at one time, Champagne.

I think Burns is a great example of 'making the best out of what you've got'. He's obviously worked very hard at the fundamentals, which he does well. He always excels in the fitness department. He has a great 'winners' attitude and is not discouraged by adversity. There's so much to be admired.

I think it's clear that he's a bit too 'straightforward' in his approach, and that he'll struggle with very slick boxers. But, he's still beating everyone so far. It's not his fault that Gonzalez quit. Lot's of other boxers would have been shut out of a fight like that after the way the first half went. But, Burns found a way to keep himself in it. Even without Gonzalez quitting, there was no way he was winning rounds 10,11,12 considering the shape he was in. The fight would have likely been a draw. Even a Burns KD wasn't out of the question had Gonzalez gone out for another 3 rounds on those shaky legs - thus winning Burns the fight.

Yes, Ricky was shown up a bit. But, he found a way to win. I think this guy Gonzalez is going to prove a handful for any LW (now that Broner is out of the division). To me, this makes a Burns vs Vasquez fight the one that picks the no.1 LW in the world (for now). I think vasquez will also give Burns lots of trouble. He also has a 'hard to hit' style.

Well, Burns will have learnt that he needs a new approach, so he has a chance i think.

davidemore wrote:Well, Burns will have learnt that he needs a new approach, so he has a chance i think.

He needs the ability to make these changes...knowing he needs to make them isn't enough.

Burns reminds me of Alex Arthur. After his loss to Gomez, Arthur became more focused on his defence and, as a result, lost a lot of his natural flow. I don't think Burns can't make the necessary changes to his game without losing the things that got him where he is.

I feel that he was out boxed but can work his way in better next time, not over stretch, be more patient, and allow his fighter to come to him, his jab, his assets.

He isn't done yet but will be soon at world level if change isn't made.