Two Lightweight Underdogs go Head to Head
by Published on 02-20-2013 01:24 PM
With Adrien Broner (26-0) having defended his WBC Lightweight title by running through the over matched Welshman Gavin Rees (37-2-1) on Saturday night. Attentions in the Lightweight division will now start to turn to the March 16th unification fight between Ricky Burns (35-2) and Miguel Vazquez (33-3) the consensus number 2 and 3 ranked fighters in the division. The fight will be the first unification fight on British shores since the 2008 Cruiserweight fight between David Haye (26-2) and Enzo Maccarinelli (35-6).
Burns and Vasquez are two of the most underrated fighters in the world and don’t seem to be getting nearly as much respect from the US audience as they deserve. Burns is a two-weight world champion and the sweetheart of Scottish boxing at the moment and we have been craving for a Burns-Broner match up since Burns was WBO Super Featherweight champion. Unfortunately for a variety reasons the fight hasn’t come to fruition yet but if Burns defeats Vasquez, the calls for the Broner fight will be getting even louder.
However Miguel Vasquez is not a man you can look past and can make anyone look bad due to his awkward style. Vasquez is ranked higher than Burns by the majority of websites, but with the fight being in Britain Burns should come in as a slight favourite. There were rumours that Vasquez wanted to fight Broner instead of Broner facing Rees, but for some reason the fight couldn’t be made. Vasquez is a back foot, who uses his movement to his advantage and rarely gets dragged into a brawl, which could in theory make him a tougher opponent for Broner than Burns.
This fight will undoubtedly be Burns’ toughest test to date and although the bookmakers will make him the slight favourite, there will be many people as always betting against Burns, who seems to be the constant underdog yet still doesn’t get the credit he deserves. The fight matches two of the taller fighters in the division, so Burns’ jab and the way he cuts the ring off will be the key to victory for him in what I expect to be a tactical fight and should end up going to the judges scorecards. The winner will not only be named WBO and IBF Lightweight champion, but could be seen as the number one fighter in the division and in for a big pay day in an attempt to halt the apparent future pound for pound star of world boxing (well we hope so).
Other fights on this stacked Rule Britannia card include Nathan Cleverly (25-0) defending his WBO Light Heavyweight title against his mandatory challenger Robin Krasniqi (39-2), George Groves (16-0) looking to add the European Super Middleweight title to his collection in the first fight of what he hopes to be a big 2013. Also there will be the return of Dereck Chisora (15-4) who is expected to have his British boxing license back and it will be the first time he has fought since getting knocked out last July in the grudge match against David Haye and he will be trying to stop his 3 fight losing streak.
Title Holder
Array
by Gareth Rees Published on 02-20-2013 01:24 PM
Originally Posted by Whyavier
Let me know when it's actually confirmed so I can start discussing it.
I got the same impression.
Wasn't aware of it but emails keep coming in...its a nuisance.
Reply With Quote
Reply With Quote
