03.10.08 – By Gary Reilly, garyreilly.blogspot.com – Last Friday night Ricky Burns achieved a personal goal in collecting the Commonwealth super featherweight title. The second time fighting for this title, but third attempt in going for a title he overcame Ghanaian Osamanu Akaba. Going into the fight, the only two defeats he has had was at the arms of Alex Arthur and Carl Johanneson. While giving spirited performances in both fights he has both times seen his title ambitions slip away on points ..
Ricky was due to fight an eight rounder on the night, however his fight plans changed on the night when main event was pulled due to Rocky Dean hurting his hand. Then he got the call from promoter Frank Warren who confirmed the new arrangements for his fight with Akaba, at two weeks notice.
I spoke to Burns on Thursday night. I started by asking how he felt his performance went. He said “I Felt the fight went well.B y the eighth round I had it even, but I had to force the punches out. I felt sometimes my timing was not right”
Given the fight was at short notice, it didn’t make any change to how he prepared for the fight “I’m a full time pro so i had been in training for an eight rounder. But I was ready for a twelve rounder, and on the night I got the job done”
Since His losses, Burns has changed over trainers from Rab Bannon to Billy Nelson. He felt that the switch was necessary “I felt it was time to move on. Having two title flight’s and losing I decided it was time to try something else. Since I switched it has been a good one”.
He further adds about his performances after switching “I have seen myself going forward more. I found in my two defeats that I was on the back foot too much.P eople only saw 50% of Ricky Burns in those fights, but I have seen a big improvement in the way I fight”
Now he has established himself as champion at super featherweight, he has found his name being mentioned by a certain boxer who has an exemplary record against Scottish fighters. In press conference to promote his upcoming fight, Michael Gomez attempted to call out Burns.
“He’s after another pay date. There are so many other fights at super featherweight I would be interested ahead of Gomez. I would not entertain him” he said.
He then adds “There is only fight I want at the moment. That fight would be the current British champion Kevin Mitchell. He recently has been injured, and wont be back until December so we’ll have to see what happens”
Looking further afield he also has designs on new world champion Nicky Cook “I see myself up there with the big guns in the division. I’d like to go at it with Nicky Cook “but he adds about his former opponent and friend Alex Arthur “I would like to see Alex get another shot at the world title.”
After achieving what he has worked so hard for its good to see Burns enjoying the status of being a champion. While he has had a few setbacks it’s good to see a pro taking himself back to the drawing board and addressing issues that he felt needing address.
At 25 I feel he has done it at the right time and this will hopefully lead to a long successful reign. This will start hopefully when he makes his first title defence on November 14th at the Kelvin Hall.
(C) Gary Reilly and Caly boxing 2008