BoxRec

Apologies if there has already been a thread on this but I couldn't find it if there has.

What are people's thoughts on this one? After yesterday's frustrations with getting tickets for Froch v Kessler, I have decided to go to this show instead.

My views: this will be a real test for Burns looking at Vazquez's record given he has only lost to Alvarez and Bradley, is the same height as Burns and has a slight reach advantage which negates two of Burns' key attributes at the weight and has a good chin having never been stopped.

I can see this being quite a tactical affair and hoping Burns manages to get a hometown decision. One good aspect is that Vazquez is not a big puncher but this is definitely Burns' toughest test yet and should be a good barometer as to whether he'd be able to compete with Broner.

I think Ricky could well stop this guy,punching very hard and fast at present

Vasquez is very mobile though, he probably has some of the quickest footwork in the game. He's not really going to stand in front of anyone, that much is evident from his title defences. He's got good movement and an excellent jab.

He's going to be ridiculously hard to pin down.

orbtastic wrote:Vasquez is very mobile though, he probably has some of the quickest footwork in the game. He's not really going to stand in front of anyone, that much is evident from his title defences. He's got good movement and an excellent jab.

He's going to be ridiculously hard to pin down.

indeed.

i think actually Burns will end up doing/ trying to do him on workrate, and he'll be throwing a lot of flurries, with Vazquez trying to adopt the pose of the sharpshooter landing at a higher %ge but throwing less. could look just a little like Joe - BHop, stylewise

Counter-puncher wrote:

orbtastic wrote:Vasquez is very mobile though, he probably has some of the quickest footwork in the game. He's not really going to stand in front of anyone, that much is evident from his title defences. He's got good movement and an excellent jab.

He's going to be ridiculously hard to pin down.

indeed.

i think actually Burns will end up doing/ trying to do him on workrate, and he'll be throwing a lot of flurries, with Vazquez trying to adopt the pose of the sharpshooter landing at a higher %ge but throwing less. could look just a little like Joe - BHop, stylewise

^ yep, this has "unwatchable for all but us die-hards" written all over it.

Good fight mind.

Not even sure it'll be unwatchable, mate. if what i think plays out w/r/t Vasquez's strategy, i could see Burns having to put it on him and stage a late comeback and throw caution to the wind somewhat.

not sure it'll be a cagy affair.

my main concern, as far out as it still is, is whether or not the fight actually happens.

Counter-puncher wrote:Not even sure it'll be unwatchable, mate. if what i think plays out w/r/t Vasquez's strategy, i could see Burns having to put it on him and stage a late comeback and throw caution to the wind somewhat.

not sure it'll be a cagy affair.

my main concern, as far out as it still is, is whether or not the fight actually happens.

Well it's maybe a good thing your not a boxing coach

Really hope Burns wins this one, but it's'not an easy task. He should have enough to take the points win at home though. Gotta love Burns, a real lovely fella.

Yeah luckily we already had tickets to this so some consolation for the froch debacle.

Card is loaded.

If, and I accept a big if, it stays together then its a top top night of boxing.

I fancy Ricky to keep proving people wrong and take it something around 116-113

Fancy burns to outwork him, but I am a big burns fan so would say that. Good opponent though and think it will be a great fight.

I didnt used to be a burns fan , but hes turned me around in the last 2 years .

billy nelson wrote:I think Ricky could well stop this guy,punching very hard and fast at present

If Ricky wins this one will you be looking for a unification fight with Broner or will you be ducking that fight again?

Yeah the card looks excellent at the moment. Just hope there are no late pull outs which always seem to plague FW shows! Ticket prices were reasonable as well at £110 for outer ringside seats.

Interesting that Groves is fighting for the vacant European title. I didn't realise Degale had vacated that. I assume he'll come through that fight and then look to challenge for a world title later in the year. I think a fight with someone like Abraham would be a cracker at this stage and one he could win although if he gets caught it would likely be good night.

Cleverly is once again fighting someone rather disappointing although he is the mandatory so I guess the obligation has to be fulfilled.

Will be interesting to see who they throw Del Boy in with (assuming he gets his licence back).

Looking forward to it.

I have my ticket for this one and can't wait. Hopefully the match up with a top quality world-title holder will put to rest all the nonsense accusations about Ricky "ducking" people.
I think Burns has really grown into the lightweight division now...maybe Billy can comment but I thought, at the Mitchell weigh in, Ricky's arms were looking more muscled at the biceps. For a man who has always "lived the life" and doesn't have to shed large amounts of fat as part of making weight, an extra 5lbs from super feather to light where a lot of that can be additional muscle may explain the extra power? The "man strength" comments sem really pertinent and I can see Ricky's relatively low KO percentage rising over coming fights

billy nelson wrote:

Counter-puncher wrote:Not even sure it'll be unwatchable, mate. if what i think plays out w/r/t Vasquez's strategy, i could see Burns having to put it on him and stage a late comeback and throw caution to the wind somewhat.

not sure it'll be a cagy affair.

my main concern, as far out as it still is, is whether or not the fight actually happens.

Well it's maybe a good thing your not a boxing coach

As you've said to me in the past, "How many world champions have you looked after"?

ha. we'll see how it plays out

willing to bet a virtual can of Buckmaster with Mr Nelson that (in relative terms) it's Vasquez who's the sharpshooter and Burns throwing the volume, assuming that's what he found so ridiculous in my prediction.

Counter-puncher wrote:ha. we'll see how it plays out

willing to bet a virtual can of Buckmaster with Mr Nelson that (in relative terms) it's Vasquez who's the sharpshooter and Burns throwing the volume, assuming that's what he found so ridiculous in my prediction.

Counter puncher the thing is Ricky is the best lightweight in the world bar none and with that he can adapt to whatever stands in front of him,he could outbox Vasquez or I defo think he punches much harder,IMO Ricky will stop Vasquez who is a very very good fighter

billy nelson wrote:

Counter-puncher wrote:ha. we'll see how it plays out

willing to bet a virtual can of Buckmaster with Mr Nelson that (in relative terms) it's Vasquez who's the sharpshooter and Burns throwing the volume, assuming that's what he found so ridiculous in my prediction.

Counter puncher the thing is Ricky is the best lightweight in the world bar none and with that he can adapt to whatever stands in front of him,he could outbox Vasquez or I defo think he punches much harder,IMO Ricky will stop Vasquez who is a very very good fighter

Fair play Billy. I'd love to see Burns do so and have huge respect for him. I'll be stunned if he can get Vasquez anywhere near going although I'd say the same the other way round.

It's a pure pick 'em fight for me, I just think Burns is naturally more aggressive and will 'make' the fight more. Terrific fight, even if it might not cross-over to the general public, but to be fair I couldn't care less about that! The winner will deservedly be the division's number one, although I'd pick Broner to beat both. Not a shred of shame in that though.

Good luck

billy nelson wrote: Ricky is the best lightweight in the world bar none and with that he can adapt to whatever stands in front of him

I wonder how quick he'd adapt to Juan Manuel Marquez

Hagler2002 wrote:

billy nelson wrote: Ricky is the best lightweight in the world bar none and with that he can adapt to whatever stands in front of him

I wonder how quick he'd adapt to Juan Manuel Marquez

Bit unfair seeing as Juan Marqy-Marq ain't made the weight in three years (is it three years? Something like that...).

I confess to not liking to see Mr Nelson riled when he's in such a communicative non-insulting mood (maybe he's just got me on ignore, I don't know, but I like this version of him), & don't see how comparing his charge to an ATG will help, in this instance.

I mean, you could also take Mr Nelson to task by saying "Nyah-nyah-nyah-nyaaah, what about Ike WIlliams? Eh? Eh? Or Joe Gans? Or Alexis Arguello? What about Duran? Eh? Eh?"

But I think both you & I know he didn't mean "Of all time".

Or if he did, I hope we can overlook his zealous partisanship on this occasion.

Datsue wrote:

Hagler2002 wrote:

billy nelson wrote: Ricky is the best lightweight in the world bar none and with that he can adapt to whatever stands in front of him

I wonder how quick he'd adapt to Juan Manuel Marquez

Bit unfair seeing as Juan Marqy-Marq ain't made the weight in three years (is it three years? Something like that...).

I confess to not liking to see Mr Nelson riled when he's in such a communicative non-insulting mood (maybe he's just got me on ignore, I don't know, but I like this version of him), & don't see how comparing his charge to an ATG will help, in this instance.

I mean, you could also take Mr Nelson to task by saying "Nyah-nyah-nyah-nyaaah, what about Ike WIlliams? Eh? Eh? Or Joe Gans? Or Alexis Arguello?"

But I think both you & I know he didn't mean "Of all time".

Or if he did, I hope we can overlook his zealous partisanship on this occasion.

IMO Marquez is still a lightweight, he only went up to fight Mayweather & Pacquiao if there was a money fight at 135lbs he'd be back down in weight.

billy nelson wrote:

Counter-puncher wrote:ha. we'll see how it plays out

willing to bet a virtual can of Buckmaster with Mr Nelson that (in relative terms) it's Vasquez who's the sharpshooter and Burns throwing the volume, assuming that's what he found so ridiculous in my prediction.

Counter puncher the thing is Ricky is the best lightweight in the world bar none and with that he can adapt to whatever stands in front of him,he could outbox Vasquez or I defo think he punches much harder,IMO Ricky will stop Vasquez who is a very very good fighter

I like your belief in your fighter Billy, we will see. personally i think he's got a better chance of outworking him than outboxing him, either way I hope he wins. my bet is somewhere around the middle rounds you'll be telling him to pick the workrate up, but hopefully the new power-punching best lightweight in the worl will have KO'd Vasquez by then

fizzjambo wrote:
Fair play Billy. I'd love to see Burns do so and have huge respect for him. I'll be stunned if he can get Vasquez anywhere near going although I'd say the same the other way round.

I just think Burns is naturally more aggressive and will 'make' the fight more. Terrific fight, even if it might not cross-over to the general public, but to be fair I couldn't care less about that! The winner will deservedly be the division's number one, although I'd pick Broner to beat both. Not a shred of shame in that though.

Good luck

nice post

SteveDow wrote:Yeah the card looks excellent at the moment. Just hope there are no late pull outs which always seem to plague FW shows! Ticket prices were reasonable as well at £110 for outer ringside seats.

Interesting that Groves is fighting for the vacant European title. I didn't realise Degale had vacated that. I assume he'll come through that fight and then look to challenge for a world title later in the year. I think a fight with someone like Abraham would be a cracker at this stage and one he could win although if he gets caught it would likely be good night.

Cleverly is once again fighting someone rather disappointing although he is the mandatory so I guess the obligation has to be fulfilled.

Will be interesting to see who they throw Del Boy in with (assuming he gets his licence back).

Looking forward to it.

Either the WBO have changed their stance or people have short memories. I can remember when Freeman Barr was mandatory for Joe Calzaghe the press were cornering Team Calzaghe (including allegedly) about when he was going to step up. After drab opponent, following drab opponent - the press then said... "well I suppose it will have to be #1 contender the unheard of Freeman Barr next". allegedly's reply "no, not necessarily as the WBO don't enforce mandatories".... thats why they didn't strip Joe cause for a long time he didn't give Veit a rematch.... Veit became interim champion, there was no threat to strip Joe from the proper title.

I think the fact this guy is a "mandatory obligation" is just an excuse..... I haven't read a press release from the WBO giving Clev a certain time to defend.

I don't know what the WBO policy on mandatories is but logic dictates that there is little point in someone being a mandatory challenger if a champion can then side step that person without any consequence. Usually champions get around the problem by simply paying the mandatory challenger money to step aside or just vacate the belt. It seems a nonsense to me if neither of those options was needed and a champion can just avoid the guy who is in the mandatory position and fight whoever he likes.