By James Slater: It seems WBO super-featherweight champ Ricky Burns will not now be making his fourth title defence with that the intriguing-looking fight with the unbeaten Adrien Broner. The fight, up on Boxrec for November 26th in Cincinnati, has not actually bee signed according to Burns’ manager Alex Morrison. Not only that, but the fight isn’t likely to be signed.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Morrison spoke of the advice he has given his fighter: that of not taking the fight and moving up to lightweight instead. Burns would, of course, give up the WBO crown he won in sensational style against Roman “Rocky” Martinez last September, yet the plan would be for him to seek a second title at the higher weight.
“My worry is Ricky making the weight,” Morrison said. “It gets more and more difficult for fighters to keep making the nine-stone, 4lbs mark (126-pounds) as they get older. Ricky is now 28 and it was always the plan for him to move up to lightweight. I’ve spoken to [Frank] Warren and he agrees with me. Money isn’t everything.
“Nothing is signed or sealed but I am advising him against the fight (Vs. Broner). Ricky is on the verge of taking my advice and saying no. I would like him to relinquish the belt and move up to win a second world title.”
Some fans will doubtless be disappointed if the Broner fight – one of the tastiest-looking fights involving a Brit this year – falls through, and Broner himself is sure to be unhappy; especially if he has already began training for the tall, rangy Burns’ style of fighting. But if he really is killing himself to make 126 (and Burns is massive for a super-featherweight at 5’10”), then the Scot really has no choice but to move up.
If the Broner fight is off, it is assumed the talented 22-year-old American, WBO ranked at #1, will face the #2 ranked fighter. That is currently unbeaten 25-year-old Puerto Rican Luis Cruz, yet he has a fight scheduled for this coming weekend. Broner will surely be compensated some way if his fight with Burns falls through though.
As for Burns as a lightweight, it would be exciting indeed to see him in against a Brandon Rios, a Robert Guerrero or even a Kevin Mitchell.