Ricky Burns To Defend WBO Super-Feather Belt Against Unbeaten Adrien Broner

By James Slater: It has been confirmed that Scotland’s Ricky Burns will make the fourth defence of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-featherweight title against unbeaten contender Adrien Broner on November 26th. The dangerous fight for Burns will go ahead in Cincinnati, 22-year-old Broner’s home town. The fight, Burns’ first outside of the U.K, could well prove to be a great one.

28-year-old Burns, 32-2(9) has enjoyed a reasonably long reign as WBO champ already. Having shocked the odds with a thrilling points win over the then unbeaten Roman “Rocky” Martinez back
in September of last year, the Scot has retained his beloved belt three times. Burns faces a genuine acid test of a defence against the fast, talented and hard-hitting former amateur standout, however.

Having been in tough already in compiling his 21-0(17) pro ledger, “The Problem,” as Broner is known, has proven his mettle. Okay, many fans disagreed with the points win he was awarded at the conclusion of his March 2011 bout with Mexican banger Daniel Ponce De Leon, feeling the former WBO super-bantamweight boss deserved the nod from the judges – but no-one can argue with how awesome Broner looked in his next fight; against the tough and usually durable Jason Litzau.

Simply put, Broner looked magnificent (not to mention ultra-dangerous) as he put Litzau’s lights out inside three-minutes a little over two months ago. And it is the combinations of speed and punching power Broner showed in Jalisco, Mexico that will have many fans feeling he will be too much for Burns.

On the other hand, Burns is a very tough and game fighter, he has never been stopped, and he will have a considerable height advantage over his challenger (Broner has a slight edge in reach, however – with his wingspan being 71,” compared to 70” for Burns according to Boxrec.com). Burns is also on a real roll now, growing into the “world” champion that he is. Burns certainly deserves much credit for agreeing to take this risky fight, when he could probably have made decent money at home, against less talented challengers.

But Burns wants to become a unified champion and he also craves having the Ring Magazine belt around his waist. If he can get past the younger, faster, harder-hitting Broner, “Rickster” will surely be on his way towards getting the mega-fights he wants.

Again though: this fight really will be a big, big test for Burns. My gut feeling tells me we will see a new WBO 126-pound champ crowned in November.