This weekend Scotland’s Ricky Burns (37-4-1, 11ko) will enter the proverbial “Lion’s Den” when he attempts the monumental task of dethroning unbeaten former WBC lightweight champion Omar Figueroa Jr (24-0-1, 18ko) as part of Al Haymon’s PBC brand – in his opponents home state of Texas.
Despite insisting he ultimately wants to remain at lightweight, the Coatbridge fighter is moving to 140lb to fight the Mexican-American who stopped Daniel Estrada in his last fight some 9 months ago.
It’s certainly going to be a tough, tough ask for the former world champion who, since losing his title on home soil to Terence Crawford in March last year, has faced questions over whether he still has what it takes to operate at top level.
It has been a tough year for Burns, who recently declared bankruptcy after a dispute with former promoter Frank Warren.
He told The Daily Mail;
“This is such a huge fight for me but we wouldn’t have taken it if we didn’t think I could win and I’m confident that I will.”
Despite being a massive underdog with the bookmakers, Burns is relishing the chance to travel Stateside and at 32 realises time is no longer on his side.
Nothing less than a win against the dangerous, hard-hitting Figueroa will be acceptable. He said;
“I don’t want to contemplate defeat. I’m not thinking about it – but there is no doubt that I need to win this one to get back on track and back into the big fights.”
He is however realistic of his chances, which most boxing insiders are viewing as very slim indeed;
“Omar is a very good fighter – there is no denying that. Our styles will mix and it’s his first fight at 140 so it’s a new thing for him to have to cope with. He was tight at the weight before and he might struggle even at this weight so we’ll see.”
All that tells me is that the power of the American will more than likely have come up with him if his team believe he can do 147. Not a great omen for Burns who is not a noted puncher and whose only chance in my eyes is to outwork the American and nick it on points.
However, for a Scotsman out in the Texas climate, Burns could be in for a big shock on fight night. He wouldn’t be the first Brit abroad to struggle with hot weather.
“I’ve already been out in Texas getting used to the heat. It’s a wee bit warmer than Glasgow or Essex, I can tell you that!”
“I’m going into his hometown and he’ll have the crowd behind him – but they can’t help him when the bell goes. It’ll be down to the two of us and the best man will win on the night.”
The likeable Scot is really going up against it facing Figueroa and after his recent money woes, I do have concerns that Burns is going over simply for the pay-day. There are no credible fights left for him at home and if he wants to stay at world level he really has to do the business and win this fight.
While it true that Burns is arguably the best name on the American fighter’s record, his strong showing against Estrada, his youth, power and momentum all swing this fight firmly in his favour and I just cannot see how Ricky can do it.
Burns, who has never been stopped in his 4 defeats, has been the underdog before in his career and has surprised me in the past – most notably when he beat Roman Martinez for the 130lb strap after hitting the deck early on in 2010.
However that was then and this is now. With every advantage seemingly with the American, this could well be the last we see of Ricky Burns, though I hope that’s not the case.
Sunday morning things will be a lot clearer…
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