Burns v Laryea ... joke fight

[wrimc]

What are peoples opinions on the upcoming Burns defence against Appleby conqueror Joseph Laryea?

How this can be allowed baffles me. Appleby was the only fighter that Laryea has ever beaten with a winning record and he recently lost fairly comprehensively to Maxwell Awuku who was soundly beaten in a commonwealth title tilt with Liam Walsh

How can Sky allow this fight to go ahead i do not know. Laryea would be an ok commonwealth challenger but has now been given a "world" title shot against Burns. I seriously question Sky's commitment to boxing and keeping standards high if they are allowing such a fight to take place on their channel under the guise of being a "world" title fight.

[boxerbob]

i think with the laryea - appleby fight it put laryea up to number 10 in the wbo rankings so burns has till september to fight his mandatory.

this fight is nothing more than a voluntary defence by burns which he is entitled too.

i posted a thread a few weeks ago saying that i was also a bit suprised that burns was not fighting a better opponent

[canonball1234]

Burnes might take Laryea lightly and get a shock who nos but the fights made and I fink he deserves his shot its not all about politics

[wrimc]

Burnes might take Laryea lightly and get a shock who nos but the fights made and I fink he deserves his shot its not all about politics

Nobody is begrudging Burns a few gimme's in his first few title defences. The fact is that Laryea is an appalling level of opponent. Burns has just beaten a much smaller fighter in Evensen which was an easy fight but Laryea does not deserve this shot in the slightest. it is just further diminishing the value of the status of "world" title.

The only reason there is not more uproar is because he is a foreign fighter. If this was Liam Walsh (who would actualy be a more worthy challenger) was fighting Burns there would be uproar.

[alexpaterson]

If it's just a keep busy fight then I see nothing wrong with it, you can't fight the best in every fight, if he gets a unification fight after it then I see nothing wrong with it. I like seeing champions keeping busy and Burns is certainly doing that! Hope he gets another big fight of he gets past Laryea

[doctorboxing]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/9368489.stm

It should be a comfortable win for Burns and hopefully will set up a unification fight later in the year.

[wrimc]

Appreciate that Burns is keeping busy but if thats a case why does this have to be a world title fight who can put their hand on their heart and say that Laryea is of world title standard.

If he wants a keep busy fight he should have a non title fight

[Emmseegee]

Some people would say that burns wasn't of world title level when he challenged for and won the title. (I'm unsure of if he was mandatory)

I really don't see what the problem is, hes trying to keep busy and make himself a living. I could also guarantee that if he picked an "easy" opponent and fought it as a non title fight there would be just as many people bad mouthing him for not putting the title on the line.

He was given his chance as an underdog and took it, I'd say it would be double standards if he never gave others the chance to win the title.

If you don't like the choice of opponent then dont go go or don't tune in but I'm personally not bothered. Would be good 2 see him make a good living for himself. Good luck to him.

[slapbangwhallop]

I'll enjoy this fight. Laryea deserves his shot after going to Scotland and beating the man that was lined up to fight Burns.

[oliverfennell]

It's "classic" WBO voluntary stuff from the 90s, like Eubank and co used to enjoy fighting.

[crusader]

Just looking at Laryea's record makes you realise how bad of a world title challenger he is. Before fighting Appleby, he had defeated one fighter with a winning record. That opponent, Korley Collison, was 1-0 at the time, and is now 2-6.

[billy nelson]

Burnes might take Laryea lightly and get a shock who nos but the fights made and I fink he deserves his shot its not all about politics

There's not a hope in hell of Ricky taking anyone lightly it simply won't be allowed!