5 Boxers to Watch in 2016

03/15/201901/04/2016 Jazz Singh Gill

Boxing in 2015 had arguably its most memorable year in a long, long time.

Finally Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio fought. Wladimir Klitschko was dethroned. Serious contenders faced off and created some deserving champions and some modern greats further enhanced their reputations.

With 2015 having been such a great year for the sport, much is expected of 2016. With all major promoters now showing a willingness to put on the fights the fans want to see, this year may separate the good from the great. With this in mind, here are five boxers that could make huge waves in 2016.

Zlaticanin defeats Ricky Burns

06/28/201406/27/2014 Bill Phanco

We may have seen the end of Ricky Burns’ career tonight with him losing a 12 round split decision to visiting fighter Dejan Zlaticanin (19-0, 13 KO’s) at the Braehead Arena, in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. The judges scored the fight 115-113, 115-113 for Zlaticanin, and 115-113 for Burns.

Zlaticanin shocked the Scottish crowd in the opening round when he connected with a beautiful left hook that smashed into Burns’ jaw, sending him down on the canvas. Burns was hurt but somehow he was able to make it back to his feet and make it out of the round. Zlaticanin pasted him with two additional big left hooks to the head similar to the first one before the round ended. Burns was able to take them because he was bracing for the shots.

After the 1st round, the fight settled into a pattern where Zlaticanin stalked Burns around the ring, tagging him with big left hooks to the head and smashing him with powerful body shots.

Burns faces Zlaticanin tonight in Glasgow

06/28/201406/26/2014 Bill Phanco

Former two weight world champ Ricky Burns (36-3-1, 11 KO’s) will be looking to convince his many doubters that he’s not an over-the-hill fighter when he faces the much smaller 5’6” Dejan Zlaticanin (18-0, 13 KO’s) tonight in a fight for the vacant WBC International lightweight title at the Braehead Arena, in Glasgow, Scotland.

At best, Burns could get a title shot against WBC lightweight champion Omar Figueroa if he wins tonight. At worse, Burns could face someone like #2 WBC Jorge Linares in a WBC eliminator with a win over Zlaticanin.

Nelson: Burns will beat Zlaticanin

06/25/201406/24/2014 Kevin Chittenden

Sky Sports commentator Johnny Nelson is confident that former two division world champion Ricky Burns (36-3-1, 11 KO’s) will come out on top this Friday night in his fight against #13 WBC Dejan Zlaticanin (18-0, 13 KO’s) at the Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Burns, who is coming off of a loss to Terence Crawford last March, has been saying that if he wins this fight on Friday, his promoter Eddie Hearn will set him up with a title shot against WBC lightweight champion Omar Figueroa. Burns is ranked only #15 by the WBC, so if Hearn is able to get him a title shot off of a win over #13 WBC Zlaticanin then it’s going to have to be an optional title defense by Figueroa.