Next for Ricky Burns

[Horse]

Is Hamilton still fighting?

He hasn't fought in almost a year, so maybe not.

Replace him with Limond.

[Autobarn]

I think, easy voluntary. Mandatory. If still champ, call out a big name, get beaten but get paid well.

Then try to extend his career by challenging Crolla down at lightweight.

Burns surprised people a few times when he arrived on the world scene. But then I just think everyone worked out how to fight him. As he gets older and goes up in weight, that style, arm punching, wide hooks, long telegraphed shots not throwing the right hand straight, all work against him...and by the time of the Beltran fight, he wasn't fighting like an experienced operator, trading shots early vs a strong Mexican, giving the advantage away immediately and paying for it.

To his credit Burns has done his part in a tremendous era for UK lightweights domestically and on the world scene. He delivered on the promise that Alex Arthur failed to deliver on. His super featherweight win over Rocky Martinez is on my all time list of great UK set fights. So credit to him. But he's getting lots of chances and things are getting a bit protracted.

[olij999]

Given Burns' flitting between lightweight and light-welter, my guess is that he will pick a series of lightweights to face. And if the WBA allows him to do so, why shouldn't he? There are a whole load of reasonably straightforward options in the WBA lightweight rankings such as:

(a) the wonderfully named Ibrahim Class - http://boxrec.com/boxer/540523 - who is heading for a much-anticipated rematch in Berlin in July but could surely be persuaded over to Scotland.

(b) PABA champ George Kambosos Jr - who is a big 9-0 - http://boxrec.com/boxer/646781.

(c) Artem Haroyan, who has fought no-one with a pulse - http://boxrec.com/boxer/681046

(d) WBA Oceania title holder "Brilliant" Brandon Ogilvie (http://boxrec.com/boxer/619182), who is lined up to face Yoshitaka Kato (http://boxrec.com/boxer/286230), so the winner of that one.

(e) Daud Yordan (http://boxrec.com/boxer/352399), who is due to face and Cristian Rafael Coria (http://boxrec.com/boxer/355509), so winner of that.

Then add in the following from the lightwelter rankings:

(f) Brian Zarza - http://boxrec.com/boxer/669827 - very mediocre, and seems to be in the rankings solely as WBA Fedelatin champion.

(g) Czar Amonsot - http://boxrec.com/boxer/236337 - former world title challenger, decent record but past his best.

(h) Julio De Jesus - http://boxrec.com/boxer/557557 - decent record but stopped on the only occasion he stepped up.

That's a whole Christmas selection pack of moderate challengers right there. And that's ignoring those potential challengers that could rise into the rankings after winning a WBA regional title.

So I think we will need to settle in and watch Ricky defend against these guys for the next couple of years. If it makes him a few quid, I can see the rationale, and any criticism should be against the WBA for ranking some of these guys in the first place.

[ThereByTheGrace]

Burns is a total paper champion, unbelievably poor placeholder who again will be outclassed when he fights a decent name.

[Horse]

Burns is a total paper champion, unbelievably poor placeholder who again will be outclassed when he fights a decent name.

Quit hating.

[Stevieb8006]

Burns is a total paper champion, unbelievably poor placeholder who again will be outclassed when he fights a decent name.

Quit hating.

if he'd have replaced the name burns with bellew, most on here would have been fine with that statement. It irks me a bit that people view it as OK for fighters like Burns to have a few soft defences, but not other champs. Surely standards should be consistent for all fighters? Not knocking you horse, but posters on here can be so easily swayed by personality

[Horse]

if he'd have replaced the name burns with bellew, most on here would have been fine with that statement. It irks me a bit that people view it as OK for fighters like Burns to have a few soft defences, but not other champs. Surely standards should be consistent for all fighters? Not knocking you horse, but posters on here can be so easily swayed by personality

I've been saying Bellew was underrated for a while now, so I'm certainly not one of Bellew's haters.

I'm okay with champions having soft defences, as long as that's not all that they do (Brook).

Burns fought some weak opposition as champion, but he also fought plenty of good opposition.

[rio]

What about Cuenca? They'd be able to sell him on his record, 48-2-0 if I recall?

Way to risky. Way to big a puncher for a voluntary.

[PredatorHayds]

The fight Matchroom are after is Burns-Hibbert to headline a show again in Glasgow.

They are hoping after Hibberts next win he will suddenly shoot up the rankings which looks likely.

[ThereByTheGrace]

The fight Matchroom are after is Burns-Hibbert to headline a show again in Glasgow.

They are hoping after Hibberts next win he will suddenly shoot up the rankings which looks likely.

I rest my case, not just burns but many fighters fight nobodies and expect world level recognition; doesn't work like that. But burns has had a track record of fighting softies to coin in the Scottish £

[Horse]

I rest my case, not just burns but many fighters fight nobodies and expect world level recognition; doesn't work like that. But burns has had a track record of fighting softies to coin in the Scottish £

He's fought plenty of good fighters.

Burns was not a bad world champion in the past.

[Darcy Delaney]

Lenny daws would be a good fight for burns

[jameswilson]

Lenny daws would be a good fight for burns

A dude who had a close fight against the guy Burns just pasted?

[Darcy Delaney]

It wasn't close lenny well won the fight but they used an illegal substance to close a cut and away from home you need a knock out to get a draw

[ThereByTheGrace]

I rest my case, not just burns but many fighters fight nobodies and expect world level recognition; doesn't work like that. But burns has had a track record of fighting softies to coin in the Scottish £

He's fought plenty of good fighters.

Burns was not a bad world champion in the past.

Burns wouldn't have been a world champion in the past; hes not the only one either there are plenty boxers out there would wouldn't have been a world contender 20 years ago never mind champion.

World titles mean nada, even more so when the top guy give up their belts and fight at made up weights. Super champions are nonsense aswell!

[Horse]

Burns wouldn't have been a world champion in the past; hes not the only one either there are plenty boxers out there would wouldn't have been a world contender 20 years ago never mind champion.

World titles mean nada, even more so when the top guy give up their belts and fight at made up weights. Super champions are nonsense aswell!

Bla, bla, bla everyone is rubbish nowadays etc.

Why are you being such a negative git?

[GlobalBox]

At number eight in the rankings we have Richie Davies Jr, must be every chance of Eddie delivering that one I would think

[ThereByTheGrace]

Burns wouldn't have been a world champion in the past; hes not the only one either there are plenty boxers out there would wouldn't have been a world contender 20 years ago never mind champion.

World titles mean nada, even more so when the top guy give up their belts and fight at made up weights. Super champions are nonsense aswell!

Bla, bla, bla everyone is rubbish nowadays etc.

Why are you being such a negative git?

I dont mean to be, its just modern boxing. There are too many world titles, too many weights and the sport becomes confusing for many

[Horse]

I dont mean to be, its just modern boxing. There are too many world titles, too many weights and the sport becomes confusing for many

Boxing was always rubbish.

Burns has done better than most.

[Autobarn]

Personally id like to see Burns have a couple of easy home defences that will top up his career earnings before he goes in the deep end again.

I think he will do that then go for Broner, and if he loses, a shot down at lightweight vs Crolla.

[Webbo911]

The fight Matchroom are after is Burns-Hibbert to headline a show again in Glasgow.

They are hoping after Hibberts next win he will suddenly shoot up the rankings which looks likely.

So Eddie is going to reward Hibbert with a title shot for swerving Dave Ryan?

Nice.

[jaymitch81]

The fight Matchroom are after is Burns-Hibbert to headline a show again in Glasgow.

They are hoping after Hibberts next win he will suddenly shoot up the rankings which looks likely.

So Eddie is going to reward Hibbert with a title shot for swerving Dave Ryan?

Nice.

Swerve Dave Ryan? Think that is a bit harsh. They have fought 3 times so not sure what is left to prove there really

[olij999]

The fight Matchroom are after is Burns-Hibbert to headline a show again in Glasgow.

They are hoping after Hibberts next win he will suddenly shoot up the rankings which looks likely.

So Eddie is going to reward Hibbert with a title shot for swerving Dave Ryan?

Nice.

Swerve Dave Ryan? Think that is a bit harsh. They have fought 3 times so not sure what is left to prove there really

Yes - and Ryan won two out of three, losing the third on a back injury. Hibbert hasn't even shown he can beat Dave Ryan on anything other than a freak injury, so for me there's plenty left for Hibbert to prove. Hibbert's got two choices - either get a shot at something bigger and better (at which point he should relinquish the Commonwealth title so Ryan can fight for it) or defend it against Ryan. If he tries to hang on to the title while not giving Ryan a shot at it, he should be stripped. Does anyone know what he's actually planning to do with the Commonwealth title?

[PredatorHayds]

He should vacate if he wins the WBC silver which his next fight is for.
Feel sorry for Ryan. Such a improved fighter.
There was no need for that 3rd fight just desperation from Matchroom to get his mate Hibbert a win.

[Webbo911]

He should vacate if he wins the WBC silver which his next fight is for.
Feel sorry for Ryan. Such a improved fighter.
There was no need for that 3rd fight just desperation from Matchroom to get his mate Hibbert a win.

Wasn't Ryan supposed to fight for the vacant commonwealth title on a Matchroom bill a while back?

Whatever happens, hope he gets the chance to fight for something decent on good money. He's a tough lad and as you say, massively improved.