BoxRec

STEPHEN HALLIDAY

ALEX Arthur will make the first defence of his European super-featherweight title against unbeaten compatriot Ricky Burns at Meadowbank Sports Centre on 18 February.

The Edinburgh boxer will also put his British and Commonwealth belts on the line against Burns, the 22-year-old from Coatbridge who has won all 13 of his professional contests to date.

Burns was due to contest the vacant European Union title against Alessandro Di Meco in Italy next Wednesday night, but will now face Arthur instead for the major European championship.

Arthur, who became the first Scottish boxer for 11 years to win a European title when he dethroned long-reigning Russian champion Boris Sinitsin at Meadowbank in July, was due to make a mandatory first defence against former rival Willie Limond whom he stopped in eight rounds for the British belt two years ago.

Limond, however, has stepped aside and will instead feature in an intriguing chief supporting contest on the Meadowbank bill against Arthur's nemesis Michael Gomez at lightweight.

Gomez inflicted the only defeat so far of Arthur's career in October 2003 when he stopped the Scot in five blistering rounds, but a much-mooted rematch has been scuppered by the Mancunian's subsequent inability to make the super-featherweight limit.

Arthur, who is now world ranked in the top 15 by all four major sanctioning bodies, cannot afford any slip-up against Burns if he is to stay on course for a major world title shot in 2006.

Think it might be a bit to early for Burns this one. I can see this fight being a replay of Arthur v Limond.

Arthur should deal with Burns with ease. I remember Limond saying in an interview he did not want to fight Alex again and that Alex is ahead of him in skills and wished him luck.

Limon Vs Gomez will be interesting and so will the crowd when Gomez returns to a Scottish ring

The Hawk wrote:Arthur should deal with Burns with ease. I remember Limond saying in an interview he did not want to fight Alex again and that Alex is ahead of him in skills and wished him luck.

Limon Vs Gomez will be interesting and so will the crowd when Gomez returns to a Scottish ring

Limmond-Gomez as an unofficial eliminator to fight Arthur did seem a possibility for a time to go on the Harrison undercard just passed, but I think it's 99.9999% definite that Gomez will be lightweight when he returns.

Interesting about Limmind himself saying he wouldn't want to fight Arhur again. He has improved since they fought, but so has Arhur - perhaps even more so.

Burns, well, maybe, but despite having great potential and getting one over on Earl, I think he should maybe have another fight or two. If that Di Meco fight goes ahead that would be great if he could come away with a decision there. I'd go with the Belerussian as Arthur's first defence. Seems pretty decent.

I tip Arthur to come out with a win too, but in Burns he's going to get a determined challenge, as you would expect from an ambitious youngster.

jomothepure wrote:

The Hawk wrote:Arthur should deal with Burns with ease. I remember Limond saying in an interview he did not want to fight Alex again and that Alex is ahead of him in skills and wished him luck.

Limon Vs Gomez will be interesting and so will the crowd when Gomez returns to a Scottish ring

Limmond-Gomez as an unofficial eliminator to fight Arthur did seem a possibility for a time to go on the Harrison undercard just passed, but I think it's 99.9999% definite that Gomez will be lightweight when he returns.

Interesting about Limmind himself saying he wouldn't want to fight Arhur again. He has improved since they fought, but so has Arhur - perhaps even more so.

Burns, well, maybe, but despite having great potential and getting one over on Earl, I think he should maybe have another fight or two. If that Di Meco fight goes ahead that would be great if he could come away with a decision there. I'd go with the Belerussian as Arthur's first defence. Seems pretty decent.

Yes Im near sure it was Limonds interview after he beat Kevin O'Hara when he said he did not want to fight Arthur again, he seemed to be very sure of it and said Arthur was way ahead of him.

The Arthur Gomez would have good appeal in a rematch, but Arthur may not want to to fight him at the Lightweight limit, and Gomez seems to be unable to make Super Featherweight. Unless Gomez looks Superb against Limond, theres nothing in a rematch against Gomez other than revenge. Really a winning Arthur should be looking outside domestic level to advance himself on world terms. I'd like to see him step up against a world class Super Featherweight next.

Way too early for Burns......imo this is a bad match-up.

If this fight is confirmed, this is terrible match-making. Ricky...dont do it!

Its way to early for Burns to face Arthur, he's being used in this match. Would be better to see him aim for the British when Alex moves on I'd think.

I've seen a lot worse matches.

Burns has an excellent win over the current British LIGHTWEIGHT champion, so he can clearly handle himself. It's not a bad match IMO.

THEBUTCH wrote:I've seen a lot worse matches.

Burns has an excellent win over the current British LIGHTWEIGHT champion, so he can clearly handle himself. It's not a bad match IMO.

You have a point, let him of the leash then, its Boxing after all

THEBUTCH wrote:I've seen a lot worse matches.

Burns has an excellent win over the current British LIGHTWEIGHT champion, so he can clearly handle himself. It's not a bad match IMO.

You do have a point, we complain when fighters are dragged a long at a slow pace so cant really say anything about Burns getting an early crack at Arthur.

THEBUTCH wrote:I've seen a lot worse matches.

Burns has an excellent win over the current British LIGHTWEIGHT champion, so he can clearly handle himself. It's not a bad match IMO.

That was a great win by young Burns. He did however get very tired in the last couple of rounds and looked a wee bit open and untidy. I wonder that had the fight not been 8 rounds, and was instead over the championship distance I think Ricky would have punched himself out and struggled to finish. This doesnt diminish the fact that Ricky has far too much skill for the likes of Graham Earl.

I have no doubt Ricky can handle himself, I just hope he doesnt go out too deep and drown.

Good luck Ricky.

liamlion wrote:

THEBUTCH wrote:I've seen a lot worse matches.

Burns has an excellent win over the current British LIGHTWEIGHT champion, so he can clearly handle himself. It's not a bad match IMO.

That was a great win by young Burns. He did however get very tired in the last couple of rounds and looked a wee bit open and untidy. I wonder that had the fight not been 8 rounds, and was instead over the championship distance I think Ricky would have punched himself out and struggled to finish. This doesnt diminish the fact that Ricky has far too much skill for the likes of Graham Earl.

I have no doubt Ricky can handle himself, I just hope he doesnt go out too deep and drown.

Good luck Ricky.

Agreed. Good post, mate.

i think arthur has the edge, but you've got to admire burns. i think he has the confidence to go in with anyone. he strikes me as an old time pro who would happily move between weights to fight decent guys, as he has fought at light-welter, light and now super feather and i honestly think he would move up again for the right cash. just a thought though.

Cant see anything other than an easy win for Arthur, this fights come a little too early for Ricky Burns.

Incidently the fight hasnt as yet been confirmed as being at Meadowbank. Ingleston may also be an option. And the whole fight depends on the EBU allowing Arthur to sidestep a mandatory title challenger.

Who do you guys think Arthur should face next, assuming he beats burns. Surely it must be time for a step up in oppoision soon.

I suppose we shouldn't complain when fighters are matched shall we say ambitiously once in a while.

I've only seen Burns' fight against Earl and i was very impressed but he did have some fundamental flaws which needed to be worked on.

I just hope that the steady drubbing i expect him to receive doesn't dent his confidence and impede future progress.

Looking for a positive - Maybe we'll be going back to the days where a loss on the record is not the end of the world. Hopefully it won't be a big deal that Burns and Georgie Hillyard, who are both destined for British title at least imo , won't have unblemished records.

Well, Arthur-Burns looks to be going ahead. Boxrec now have this fight in for 18th Feb (week before the Harrison-Guzman fight) with Gomez-Limmond at lightweight also in (for the WBU championship of the world, obviously.) Burns' EU fight for this coming Wednesday has been taken down too.