Ricky Burns Champion of the World

Ricky Burns tonight became the latest boxing flower of Scotland when he out-fought, out-boxed, out punched and outscored Puerto Rico’s Roman Martinez on home soil winning the WBO super-featherweight title at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall on Saturday night, in a fantastic battle.
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In what will go down has a contender for fight of the year and being the first fight of the season, has set a bench mark for the other world title fights ahead.
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Burns had to climb off the canvas in the first round, after Martinez landing a straight right hand down the pipe which had the Scottish challenger on the seat of his pants, making the pre-fight predictions of a Martinez blow-out look promising.

But Burns tonight shown boxing prowess, skills and bravery that he had promised to show in his career and tonight it all came together has he out worked a champion who looked completely out of ideas at times and short of a game plan continually looking for the big punch.

Burns regrouped after the first round knockdown, to take the next five rounds of the fight, boxing with great composure, he punished Martinez for his sloppy work and was landing right uppercuts on the champions chin at times that would have felled lesser men than Martinez.

Martinez 27, ragged in his own work just couldn’t get to grips with Burns and at times was lunging in with his shots and sometimes looked out of ideas as Burns stuck to his game-plan and out-boxed an at times erratic Martinez.

The Puerto Rican though was always dangerous and though lots of his loaded punches were falling short the ones that were getting through still were food for thought for Burns who at times felt the jolt of Martinez’ heavy digs, but continued to stay focused.

Burns in the seventh round did lose his composure and was visibly hurt when a right hand left hook combination from Martinez sent the spray flying from his head, looking on shaky legs, it again looked like this could be it, after being promised so much from Martinez especially since his knockout of Nicky Cook in Manchester to win the world title in 2009 but Martinez couldn’t land cleanly and Burns made it to the bell.

By the start of the eight round Burns had gathered himself and with a clear head smiled at Martinez in respect as the referee called them together for the round. The Glasgow crowd was deafening all night and Burns support was fantastic as he was now again out punching and out witting Martinez.
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Burns had shook the effects of round seven and was now back in control of the fight as he rocked back Martinez’ head with a peach of an uppercut to end the round. The uppercut was had been smashing off the granite chin of the come forward champion all night, and we understand now why he says he has never been down amateur or pro.

Many in the press believed that Burns would opted to box Martinez on the outside all night and it was only a matter of time before Burns was drawn into a fight with Martinez on the inside which would be his un-doing, but Burns was able to also fight inside with Martinez out work him and come out on top.

Martinez was doggedly trying to hang onto his title and relentlessly came forward in search of a big shot, which in the end proved his down fall, he had used up so much energy lunging at Burns and missing with too many big hooks, it had sapped his energy which in turn limited his power and Burns was able to ride his shots and score sometimes too easy with his own.

Burns 27, came out for the eleventh round moving around in distance and using a good poking left jab that kept Martinez at bay and off balance, putting together his punches well Burns just looked like he wasn’t to be denied and has his home crowd roared him into the last round, he now just had to box the most important three minutes of his life and he would realise his dream of becoming Scotland’s latest world champion.

Martinez wasn’t to let his crown slip away easily though and gave his all in the final session to try and hang onto it, but Burns using his boxing skills, behind his jab kept Martinez at bay, a low blow from Martinez stopped the action briefly while Burns recovered from a pain in the Queensburys, but it delayed the inevitable and as the final bell donged for the finale to this wonderful night of boxing in the famous Kelvin Hall.
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Everyone knew including Martinez that there was only one winner, and a new world champion Scotland can be proud of. Ricky Burns the new WBO super-featherweight champion of the world.
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Martinez is as tough as they come and can bounce back from this setback, and although he was exposed by Burns tonight, put on a performance of effort and grit to try and hang onto his title making this fight one that will live in the memory of the fans who witnessed it.
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Judges’ scores of 115-112 (twice) and 115-113 were announced in favour of the Scot.
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Always nice when a prediction comes off and I tipped Burns to win the fight on points, although I did admit to letting my heart rule my head, but congratulations go out to Burns who shown us skills and desire at a level we had not seen from him before and rose gallantly to world class. We look forward to seeing him back in the ring soon.

Ricky Burns Roman Martinez Post Fight Discussion with our friend Danny

Great to have boxing back and the new season promises to be a mouth watering one with some fantastic fights coming up including Jason Booths own attempts to claim a world title from Canadian champion Steve Moltor. Booth, 32, challenges for the Canadian’s IBF world super-bantamweight title at Houghton-le-Spring’s Rainton Meadows Arena on Saturday September 11.
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Then another Frank Warren show this time in Birmingham in two weeks, The Magnificent Seven bill with an array of boxing talent on show.

Thanks go out to Sky for bringing boxing to our screens and without there backing for our sport we would be starved of any boxing coverage. We are pleased to see there weekly boxing news supplement Ringside return to Sky Sports this September as part of an unrivalled season of boxing coverage.

The weekly one-hour magazine show will feature in-depth news, previews, interviews and expert analysis, offering Sky Sports viewers a greater focus on the world of boxing.

The Saturday night fights, will be brought to us live and in high definition. The live boxing on Sky Sports HD will include domestic and international boxing, featuring World, European and British title fights.

From September, Sky Sports viewers can look forward to:

RINGSIDE – Every Thursday, Ringside will show the latest news, interviews and expert analysis, starting on September 9.

SATURDAY NIGHTS – Live boxing on Sky Sports returns to Saturday nights giving extra prominence and at an earlier start time of 9pm.

BEST OF BRITISH – Live Sky Sports HD coverage will showcase the best British boxers – including some of our brightest prospects.

By Chris Maylett