Looks like team burns bottled it

[TheCobra]

Where's Billy big gob?

[btahthezone]

I understand but why not hold out for the money or trying to get a bigger cut. Cause if he loses this fight which i do hope he doesnt. he would have to restart again which could be confidence shattering. he is growing in stature and this is risk fighter as Broner would defiantly be the favourtie.

[ALI]

A lot of noise has been made in the past about Burns fighting Broner. Now there is a firm offer of 300k on the table, a date of 16th February confirmed (= 9 weeks prep time!) i really cant fathom out why this would be declined.

I sincerally doubt that Burns himself is bottling it, i'm more inclined to think that team Burns is trying to hold out for better terms/money, or they are filling his head with crap in order to steer him away from the fight.

I'm sure Ricky is up for this fight. Ideally, i'd like to see him take the bull by the horns and tell his team to get the fight on for the date proposed.

[rio]

If burns turns down this fight hes nothing more than a paper champ. He is simply a champion who picks and chooses handpicked opponents everyone knows hes going to beat and when a legitimate challenge comes along he side steps it. Why on earth would he turn down a career high pay day to fight a nobody (probably walsh) in jan for 1/3 of the money he would be getting.

How anyone can say he not doidging broner is beyond belief. This is the 2nd time hes said no. And as far as having a tune up, why does he need one? Hes been active, had way more fights than broner, more championship experience, hes older.It should be the other way round and broner trying to side step burns. You have to think team burns would rather take a bunch of east defences as they no deep down broner would be to much.

[whiskey]

If they think they can call the shots over a GBP poster boy fighter, whom is already former WBO champion at Super Feather and is targeting their WBO title after already winning the WBC easily - then they are mistaken.

Broner is the 'WBO fighter of the month' I see on their website.

Will the WBO want a percentage of Burn's future fights, or HBO star Broner? Mmm tough one !

[billy nelson]

If burns turns down this fight hes nothing more than a paper champ. He is simply a champion who picks and chooses handpicked opponents everyone knows hes going to beat and when a legitimate challenge comes along he side steps it. Why on earth would he turn down a career high pay day to fight a nobody (probably walsh) in jan for 1/3 of the money he would be getting.

How anyone can say he not doidging broner is beyond belief. This is the 2nd time hes said no. And as far as having a tune up, why does he need one? Hes been active, had way more fights than broner, more championship experience, hes older.It should be the other way round and broner trying to side step burns. You have to think team burns would rather take a bunch of east defences as they no deep down broner would be to much.

Rio I'm afraid to say you are so far wrong on many counts,now I know your new to this site so maybe you should learn a bit before passing nonsense judgements

[billy nelson]

http://www1.skysports.com/boxing/news/1 ... ext-Spring

Bottled it. This fight will never happen. This is whats wrong with boxing. Why would burns not take this fight??? Looks like we will be expecting a another "ppv" fight such as walsh or maybe a Laryea rematch. No excuses the fight is on the table, champions should fight champions. The ball is firmly in burns court, broner is game.Once your a world champion there should be no such thing as tune up. You should fight only fight the best or give up the belt.

Feel sorry for cleverly. He could not get the fight he wanted for whatever reason but burns does not have that excuse. The fight is there and the money is on the table. You have to think team burns do not fancy there chances. They already vacated a belt rather face him. Funny thing is I dont remember anyone mentioning burns was struggling with weight, then once broner becomes mandatory they couldent vacate quick enough.

Tell me then rio,you being the expert how do you think a fighter fells mentally after training hard for 8 weeks with no end result? are you one of these guys that thinks boxers are machines that you can turn on and off?
ricky will do what Ricky thinks is best for Ricky's career not anyone else's!

[rio]

If burns turns down this fight hes nothing more than a paper champ. He is simply a champion who picks and chooses handpicked opponents everyone knows hes going to beat and when a legitimate challenge comes along he side steps it. Why on earth would he turn down a career high pay day to fight a nobody (probably walsh) in jan for 1/3 of the money he would be getting.

How anyone can say he not doidging broner is beyond belief. This is the 2nd time hes said no. And as far as having a tune up, why does he need one? Hes been active, had way more fights than broner, more championship experience, hes older.It should be the other way round and broner trying to side step burns. You have to think team burns would rather take a bunch of east defences as they no deep down broner would be to much.

Rio I'm afraid to say you are so far wrong on many counts,now I know your new to this site so maybe you should learn a bit before passing nonsense judgements

Which bit is wrong Billy?
1. Had he not side stepped broner twice?
2. Is he not turning down broner to fight a lesser opponent in jan?
3. Has he not had more fights than broner?
4. more championship fights than Broner?
5. would this be a career high pay pay?
6. Would he not be getting at least 1/3 less in this "defence" in scotland

I apologise if I have any of my facts wrong, please feel free to correct me.....................

[Dan Dares]

I don't think Burns would 'bottle' the fight for for a second. He's probably been just 'advised' or 'told' not to take it yet.

I'm sure Burns would also be over the moon with 400K net or gross, but the problem is that 400K doesn't mean much to his manager or promoter. I'd love to know what figure his manager was thinking about when he said £400k after tax and expenses. What expenses? Commission for his manager/promoter? So a fighter misses an opportunity to prove he's the real deal because his manager or promoter aren't earning enough out of it?

400K for Ricky Burns to go to the states and challenge Adrian Broner at lightweight is a very fair price, for me. He should be biting their hand off.

You've gotta make hay while the sun shines, and Burns is in his prime. Imagine what Burns would be worth if he beat Broner?

[rio]

"Tell me then rio,you being the expert how do you think a fighter fells mentally after training hard for 8 weeks with no end result? are you one of these guys that thinks boxers are machines that you can turn on and off?
ricky will do what Ricky thinks is best for Ricky's career not anyone else's!"


Lets get this straight......after 8 weeks in training hes ok to fight in Jan against some nobody but not ok to fight in feb against broner??

I take it the last comment means your pretty sure he will be beat so your avoiding broner. Thats fair enough. Should have said that from the start that you dont fancy him, just dont string the fans along that your looking for a unification then when one is offered turn it down.

[ALI]

Lets get this straight......after 8 weeks in training hes ok to fight in Jan against some nobody but not ok to fight in feb against broner??

Billy, this is a fair point and needs clarifying. It seems very odd he'd be up for a fight against a lesser oponent in January, but not a unification fight/career high payday in mid February against Broner. A fight that he's supposedly been chasing for some time now. What could possibly be the reason for a tune up fight prior to facing Broner later in the year?

I've been a fan of Ricky since he debuted on the Audley Harrison card at the Kelvin Hall way back when and i'll continue to support him all the way through his career. I like everything about him as a boxer, he's earned his reputation the right way, and he seems like a really decent guy outside of the ring, but as a fan of the sport, i'll be dissapointed if he does'nt take this fight. I cannot understand why he'd walk away from this. It seems that just about everyone else feels the same way, other than team Burns.

[whiskey]

Never heard a reigning world champion say he 'needs a tune up' before defending it against a legit contender - especially as he has boxed 3 or 4 times in the last year already.

Fair enough if Boner was a southpaw or something but he isn't.

This is also for a WBC world title - it's what boxers dream of, unifying in front of millions for a career high payday.

If people are saying bottle job... and we hear those familiar old noises are coming from Team Burns yet again, just like the last time Boner zoomed in on them - well, it's hard not to think otherwise is it?

Enlighten us some more Bill and make those thought's go away, with legit facts and not waffle.

Im not a Burns basher, infact he could beat Boner in Scotland I reckon.

[TheCobra]

There are always more issues behind the scenes what with promoters wanting extra options etc, but for all the world that looks like a good offer on paper and it looks definitely that Burns has ducked Broner for a second time.

[billy nelson]

If burns turns down this fight hes nothing more than a paper champ. He is simply a champion who picks and chooses handpicked opponents everyone knows hes going to beat and when a legitimate challenge comes along he side steps it. Why on earth would he turn down a career high pay day to fight a nobody (probably walsh) in jan for 1/3 of the money he would be getting.

How anyone can say he not doidging broner is beyond belief. This is the 2nd time hes said no. And as far as having a tune up, why does he need one? Hes been active, had way more fights than broner, more championship experience, hes older.It should be the other way round and broner trying to side step burns. You have to think team burns would rather take a bunch of east defences as they no deep down broner would be to much.

Rio I'm afraid to say you are so far wrong on many counts,now I know your new to this site so maybe you should learn a bit before passing nonsense judgements

Which bit is wrong Billy?
1. Had he not side stepped broner twice?
2. Is he not turning down broner to fight a lesser opponent in jan?
3. Has he not had more fights than broner?
4. more championship fights than Broner?
5. would this be a career high pay pay?
6. Would he not be getting at least 1/3 less in this "defence" in scotland

I apologise if I have any of my facts wrong, please feel free to correct me.....................

1.Ricky has never avoided Broner why would he?
2.Ricky will prob have to fight his mandatory so I hardly think its a easier option
3.Your figures are a mile out mate
4.Ricky just put 8 hard weeks in with no end result,can you but yourself in his shoes a think how he feels?
5.Broner and Ricky will get the wish just not in feb

[misterpunch]

i hope ricky holds out for even better money and that when he does fight AB he kicks his arse

[RonnieTheSharkClark]

How about if Broner wants the fight so bad they find a way to make the fight happen in Britain?!?! Why should Ricky go to America and fight him there where he will have to knock Broner out to get a draw?!?! It's a true saying in life that 'Money talks, Bullshit walks'... Hope Ricky does the right thing and don't jump into all the rubbish baiting!!!

[Lenny]

How about if Broner wants the fight so bad they find a way to make the fight happen in Britain?!?! Why should Ricky go to America and fight him there where he will have to knock Broner out to get a draw?!?! It's a true saying in life that 'Money talks, Bullshit walks'... Hope Ricky does the right thing and don't jump into all the rubbish baiting!!!

Yep, do the fight in Britain. The land of the fair decision!

[RonnieTheSharkClark]

Sarcasm is the lowest form of Witt... ;)

[J]

i hope ricky holds out for even better money and that when he does fight AB he kicks his arse

this, its a big fight, Ricky should take it when he has the best chance of winning and not rush into it.

Im afriad we can go on about ducking and this and that, ricky isnt the only one to hold out for when the time suits him.

its part of the sport, maybe mores the pity but to nail ricky to the mast for not taking this fight due to it not being the right time isnt fair when it happens every week with other fighters.

as long as he fights him within a year Id say he is quite within his rights to hold off.

[Lenny]

Sarcasm is the lowest form of Witt... ;)

It's all I got...

Burns is the champ so holding it in Scotland would make sense except Broner brings a lot more $$$$

[RonnieTheSharkClark]

Yeah hence why I said money talks... ;) anyways if the British got behind the British like the way Americans get behind the Americans... We would be far more better pedigree of fighters and overall better people... Have a little faith in ur country and ur country will have massive faith in u ;)

[straali]

Well said Ronnie
Okay, I'm biased....I'm Scottish, I think Burns is a top fighter and a credit to the sport....always comes across as so unassuming, doesn't trash talk and has done his talking in the ring. But I laugh at the way people come on here with zero knowledge of the specifics of offers (ie what options would Burns be giving up as part of this "too good to refuse" deal) and basically accuse fighters and their teams of being yellow....it's a frikkin disgrace. Ricky has earned the right to negotiate good terms for good fights..and I refuse to believe he is avoiding anybody. However dismissive folk are about Moses, Katsidis, Martinez (hey..I wasn't thinking he was anything less than class when I saw him just about take Nicky Cook's head off at the MEN), Mitchell (likewise in his fight of the year v John Murray) these are all quality fighters who Ricky SCHOOLED.
Broner looks good, at times....but, then again so did Jeff Lacy and any number of "next big thing" Yanks with 20-something and 0 records.

The Ring magazine treats Ricky with much more respect than a lot of posters on this forum.

[tancy lee]

Yeah hence why I said money talks... ;) anyways if the British got behind the British like the way Americans get behind the Americans... We would be far more better pedigree of fighters and overall better people... Have a little faith in ur country and ur country will have massive faith in u ;)

In what way dont the british crowds not get behind there fighters ? look at Broner/Mayweather /Hopkins they dont always figth at full venues ,the last few mayweather fights has seen the casinos give away comps and loads of tickets for sale .Havingthe backing of a TV station is one thing ,dosent mean you can sell out arenas

now look at Froch/burns and to a lesser extent Cleverly recent fights ,they all have had good showings at the arensa they have fougth at recently .

[Lenny]

Yeah hence why I said money talks... ;) anyways if the British got behind the British like the way Americans get behind the Americans... We would be far more better pedigree of fighters and overall better people... Have a little faith in ur country and ur country will have massive faith in u ;)

In what way dont the british crowds not get behind there fighters ? look at Broner/Mayweather /Hopkins they dont always figth at full venues ,the last few mayweather fights has seen the casinos give away comps and loads of tickets for sale .Havingthe backing of a TV station is one thing ,dosent mean you can sell out arenas

now look at Froch/burns and to a lesser extent Cleverly recent fights ,they all have had good showings at the arensa they have fougth at recently .

No other country gets travelling support like the Brits. Unless you're talking about tv companies not fans?

[tancy lee]

Yeah hence why I said money talks... ;) anyways if the British got behind the British like the way Americans get behind the Americans... We would be far more better pedigree of fighters and overall better people... Have a little faith in ur country and ur country will have massive faith in u ;)

In what way dont the british crowds not get behind there fighters ? look at Broner/Mayweather /Hopkins they dont always figth at full venues ,the last few mayweather fights has seen the casinos give away comps and loads of tickets for sale .Havingthe backing of a TV station is one thing ,dosent mean you can sell out arenas

now look at Froch/burns and to a lesser extent Cleverly recent fights ,they all have had good showings at the arensa they have fougth at recently .

No other country gets travelling support like the Brits. Unless you're talking about tv companies not fans?

im talking about fans ,granted the figthers i mentioned there were all tv fighters ,but if were talking comparisons of the bigger named fighters from both the us and uk i think we do ok . It surprises me that some of the fighters i names cant sell ount in there own arenas ...