Burns next defence at Excel, London Dec 15th

[andeeholden]

The opponent is yet to be named but we're assured it'll be a top 10 contender.

http://www.allegedly.com/news/press-r ... excel.html

Any thoughts on who it could be? Also, what next for George Groves?

[handsofstone]

i heard liam walsh? i hope not, walsh is a decent fighter but he doesnt deserve a world title shot. i wanna see burns fight world ranked fighters from now on , im not wanting to see him fighting calzaghe title fights.

[ShadrachSimmo]

Walsh would be 3 steps back for Burns he's only had 1 meaningful contest at Lightweight. It's supposed to be a top 10 contender he's fighting. As for Groves I suppose he could still fight Steiglitz even though he lost his title.

[Andrew]

A fight with Sakio Bika would be decent for George Groves doubt Frank would have to big issues getting him over if he really wanted it.

[andeeholden]

Would definitely fancy the Stieglitz matchup for Groves, Robert fought impressively despite losing the title to Abraham so facing him would definitely give George the chance to prove himself further albeit without a title on the line

[Autobarn]

there was a list of 3 names wasn't there? rees, with a rival promoter who need to fill up all their sky sports tv dates; kim, the very exciting korean who nonetheless already lost to IBF champ miguel vazquez; and some guy named gonzalez?

walsh isn't even a lightweight, is he?

if burns beats a legit top 10 contender he could be a fighter of the year contender. (beating 3x top 10 ranked contenders in no small thing, these days. also, when/if the broner type fights come, we'll never see this kind of activity again, i reckon.)

[Autobarn]

ok how did walsh look at lightweight in his last fight?

his previous 2 fights were very exciting, perhaps too exciting to give him a good chance of upsetting burns...

[sgtcecil]

Walsh would be 3 steps back for Burns he's only had 1 meaningful contest at Lightweight. It's supposed to be a top 10 contender he's fighting. As for Groves I suppose he could still fight Steiglitz even though he lost his title.

Id say all his fights at lightweight have been meaningful - kats, moses and mitchell a decent run of fights

[andeeholden]

Walsh would be 3 steps back for Burns he's only had 1 meaningful contest at Lightweight. It's supposed to be a top 10 contender he's fighting. As for Groves I suppose he could still fight Steiglitz even though he lost his title.

Id say all his fights at lightweight have been meaningful - kats, moses and mitchell a decent run of fights

I think Shadrach meant that Walsh had only had one meaningful fight at lightweight, and therefore wouldn't be much of a challenge for Burns who, as you rightly say had had numerous lightweight fights

[handsofstone]

the only british fighter he could justifibly fight is gavin rees otherwise id like to see a very recent former world titlist in the frame

[stujones]

Don't know why but I got a hunch John Murray will fight Burns in December.

[leforge]

Don't know why but I got a hunch John Murray will fight Burns in December.

In house cheap to make again.

[ShadrachSimmo]

Walsh would be 3 steps back for Burns he's only had 1 meaningful contest at Lightweight. It's supposed to be a top 10 contender he's fighting. As for Groves I suppose he could still fight Steiglitz even though he lost his title.

Id say all his fights at lightweight have been meaningful - kats, moses and mitchell a decent run of fights

I think Shadrach meant that Walsh had only had one meaningful fight at lightweight, and therefore wouldn't be much of a challenge for Burns who, as you rightly say had had numerous lightweight fights

on the head. I did think I worded it a little confusingly.

[sgtcecil]

Got ye now

[brian13]

Don't know why but I got a hunch John Murray will fight Burns in December.

Last two fights were TKO losses. How can the WBO possibly sanction that ?

[Bennyblanco]

Don't know why but I got a hunch John Murray will fight Burns in December.

Last two fights were TKO losses. How can the WBO possibly sanction that ?

Stranger things have happened

[ThereByTheGrace]

Surely he's due a defence against an African Superfeather, it's traditional?

Na you have to have the Norwegian-Columbian featherweight first.

[Autobarn]

the only british fighter he could justifibly fight is gavin rees otherwise id like to see a very recent former world titlist in the frame

it would be good. but we've already had the top UK matchup, burns-mitchell. i doubt we get another this year. also won't this matchup create problems due to one fighter being with FW and the other with matchroom? are matchroom grooming rees for a world title shot and if so might it be someone different than burns?

[gobbles]

Walsh would be 3 steps back for Burns he's only had 1 meaningful contest at Lightweight. It's supposed to be a top 10 contender he's fighting. As for Groves I suppose he could still fight Steiglitz even though he lost his title.

To be fair to Burns, all three of his lightweight opponents have been significant. Katsidis, Moses and Mitchell is a pretty good list.

[GlobalBox]

I thought it would be Walsh but apparently he is defending his commonwealth belt against Paul Truscott in December so that looks out.

[Datsue]

Walsh would be 3 steps back for Burns he's only had 1 meaningful contest at Lightweight. It's supposed to be a top 10 contender he's fighting. As for Groves I suppose he could still fight Steiglitz even though he lost his title.

To be fair to Burns, all three of his lightweight opponents have been significant. Katsidis, Moses and Mitchell is a pretty good list.

I agree. His super-feather reign was fuckin' dire, but the opponents since he rose in weight have been far, far better.

[Autobarn]

Walsh would be 3 steps back for Burns he's only had 1 meaningful contest at Lightweight. It's supposed to be a top 10 contender he's fighting. As for Groves I suppose he could still fight Steiglitz even though he lost his title.

To be fair to Burns, all three of his lightweight opponents have been significant. Katsidis, Moses and Mitchell is a pretty good list.

all were ranked in the top 10 of ring magazine, at the time of fighting burns, i believe.

& even though the super featherweight defenses were dreadful, the title-winning effort vs rocky martinez was also a very significant win. for me it was one of the best world title fights in the UK since brodie-chi 1. boxing news interestingly hailed it as one of the great british world title fights, in last week's issue.

[wadey]

Surely he's due a defence against an African Superfeather, it's traditional?

What's traditional is that Frank's shows at the excel always get cancelled or moved else where.

[ShadrachSimmo]

Walsh would be 3 steps back for Burns he's only had 1 meaningful contest at Lightweight. It's supposed to be a top 10 contender he's fighting. As for Groves I suppose he could still fight Steiglitz even though he lost his title.

To be fair to Burns, all three of his lightweight opponents have been significant. Katsidis, Moses and Mitchell is a pretty good list.

I was stating that Walsh has only had 1 meaningful fight at lightweight.

[Eddy]

I like old Ricky. Seems a good fella. Even if he is Scottish. I'll be rootin' for him.