Ricky Burns lets the side down

According to promoter Frank Warren, WBO super featherweight champion Ricky Burns (39-2, 9KOs) is going to move up to the lightweight division. Burns was slated to face mandatory challenger Adrien Broner (21-0, 17KOs) on November 26th in Cincinnati. But, earlier this week the champion's manager, Alex Morrison, advised his boxer to turn the fight down. Morrison disclosed that his fighter is struggling to make the division limit of 130-pounds.

Warren views the move as a chance for his boxer to make history.

"Ricky Burns can become Scotland's first two-weight world champion this century when he challenges for the vacant interim WBO world lightweight title. It will be great for Ricky if he wins, as the last Scot to do it was Paul Weir in 1995," Warren noted.

The move by Burns will leave Broner without a dance partner for the November date. Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer will attempt to match Broner with the highest available WBO contender, Eloy Perez (22-0, 6KOs). Both Broner and Perez are promoted by Golden Boy. If Perez turns the fight down, then Broner would fight another ranked opponent for the vacant WBO belt.

captainanddew wrote:I don't recall there being any discussion about Burns struggling with making weight for his previous fights. I live in the US and I'd figure there would have been some coverage of that in the UK. Was there??

gomez1012 wrote:Maybe Burns has something legit lined up at 135?

I do like Broner vs Perez though, nice BAD main event

gomez1012 wrote:Poor T Rex, freaking gross mismatch

Lampley was shitting on it when HBO aired the highlights