Ricky Burns joins Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya on route to glory

This article really makes a mockery of boxing.

http://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/10604517/burns-v-relikh-ricky-burns-joins-floyd-mayweather-oscar-de-la-hoya-on-route-to-glory

In becoming Scotland's first three-weight world champion, Ricky Burns put his name among an exclusive list of fighters who took the same path to triple glory.

Burns makes the first defence of his WBA super-lightweight world title on Friday live on Sky Sports as he takes on unbeaten mandatory challenger Kiryl Relikh.

Only four other fighters won their first world title at super-featherweight before moving up to reign at lightweight and super-lightweight, and you will see the Scot has followed in some famous footsteps...

Hector Camacho

Puerto Rican great Camacho was the first fighter to achieve the feat and it was in San Juan in August 1983 that he won his maiden world title, stopping Rafael Limon in the fifth round to claim the vacant WBC super-featherweight strap.

After one successful defence, Camacho went in pursuit of lightweight glory and soon took on experienced Mexican Jose Luis Ramirez who he defeated via a unanimous decision to again capture the esteemed green belt.

'Macho' then overcame two former world champions, Edwin Rosario and Cornelius Boza-Edwards, to retain the belt before the southpaw star, still undefeated, once again moved up.

It was against Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini that history was made with Camacho winning a split-decision to add the vacant WBO super-lightweight belt to his collection.

Despite the achievement, Camacho's illustrious career was still taking off and he later earned minor titles in four additional weight classes to become boxing's first septuple champion, including wins over none other than Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard.

Camacho fought on until the age of 47 and eventually called time on his career in 2010. He tragically passed away two years later, aged 50, after being shot and wounded while sitting in a car.

Julio Cesar Chavez

Considered the greatest Mexican boxer of all time and one of the pound-for-pound best ever, Chavez finished his career in 2005 with a record of 107-6-2-KO86, having gone 90 fights before he tasted defeat.

Known for his outstanding punching power, Chavez won his WBC super-featherweight and first world title by stopping Mario Martinez in California in September 1984.

After nine successful defences, he moved up to inflict the third defeat on Edwin Rosario and in doing so won the WBA lightweight title, and went on to unify the division against another familiar foe in Jose Luis Ramirez.

Chavez matched Camacho's three-weight record with a win over Roger Mayweather and again went on to unify the WBC and WBA belts, this time by stopping Meldrick Taylor in March 1990 in the Ring Magazine's Fight of the Year.

It was not until 1994, in his 91st fight, that Chavez tasted that first loss to Frankie Randall, a defeat that he immediately avenged.

Oscar de la Hoya

'Golden Boy' De La Hoya shot to stardom at the Summer Olympics in 1992, when he won gold in the lightweight division. Soon after, he turned professional and won his first world title in his 12th fight aged just 20, stopping Jimmy Bredahl in the 10th round to win the WBO super-featherweight title.

After one defence, he chased lightweight success and De La Hoya quickly dispatched Mexican veteran Jorge Paez to again collect the WBO strap.

He continued his ravenous unbeaten streak, taking on all-comers as he briefly added the IBF belt to his collection by blasting out Rafael Ruelas.

In 1996, still just 22 years old, the Californian favourite again jumped up in weight as he challenged for the WBC super-lightweight belt. In his way however was none other than Chavez, who at the time boasted an almost perfect and unassailable record of 96-1-1.

In a gritty battle, De La Hoya sensationally defeated the Mexican legend in the fourth round, having left his face bloodied and bruised with referee Joe Cortez calling a halt to proceedings on medical advice.

Oscar had become boxing's golden fighter as his stardom reached an outstanding level. He went on to win world titles in the welterweight, super-welterweight and middleweight divisions, becoming a six-weight world champion.

Floyd Mayweather Jr

Mayweather is widely considered one of the greatest boxers of all time and retired last year after he retained the Ring Magazine, WBC and WBA welterweight world titles by outpointing Andre Berto.

With that victory he moved to 49-0-KO26, becoming one of few champions to retire from boxing with an unblemished record.

Having won Olympic bronze at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, Mayweather won the first of his many world titles in his 18th contest as a professional, retiring Genaro Hernandez in the eighth round to win the WBC super-featherweight belt.

After eight defences, including a stoppage victory over Diego Corrales, Mayweather moved up to 135lbs and earned a controversial victory over Jose Luis Castillo to again hold the coveted green belt. Many had Castillo winning the fight and it was the closest 'Money' ever came to defeat.

In the rematch, Mayweather won more conclusively and he made another two defences before he joined the exclusive three-weight list, stopping the late, great Arturo Gatti in the sixth round of their 2005 contest for the WBC super-lightweight title.

The formerly named 'Pretty Boy' became one of the pound-for-pound best as he soon conquered the welterweight and super-welterweight divisions, leaving the likes of Ricky Hatton, Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez and Miguel Cotto in his wake.

It may have taken him longer than some of the elite fighters but Burns became the first British fighter to become a three-weight world champion since Duke McKenzie in the 1990s.

He already had defeats to fellow Scot Alex Arthur and Yorkshire's Carl Johanneson on his resume when he challenged Roman Martinez for the WBO super-featherweight title in September 2010. 'Rickster' was down in the first but climbed back up to outpoint the champion and become Scotland's latest - and last - world champion.

Burns made three quick defences but weight became an issue and he stepped up to lightweight to take on Michael Katsidis for the WBO interim title, winning unanimously on points, and was subsequently upgraded to 'full' champion.

He defended the strap three times before scraping a controversial draw against Raymundo Beltran, having suffered a broken jaw in the second round. Six months later in March 2014, the arrival of Terence Crawford saw the WBO lightweight title head to America and leave us wondering if Burns would call it a day.

Burns fought on but after a brave defeat at the hands of Dejan Zlaticanin, he switched to super-lightweight and after a warm-up fight took on Omar Figueroa in Texas, losing a close fight on points.

He flirted with lightweight again and won the vacant WBO International title in November 2015, before promoter Eddie Hearn landed him a shot at the vacant WBA super-lightweight belt in May this year.

Scotland was behind him and Italian Michele Di Rocco in front of him, and after eight one-sided rounds the boy from Coatbridge put his name in the history books.

Is your issue that Burns wasn't ever lineal champ (in the same way Camacho wasn't)?

Oscar only held an ABC belt at super feather and lightweight - same as Burns.

Apparently, if he wins on Friday, he'll get a fight with Broner in Vegas next and become the first Scottish boxer to earn £1m from a single fight.

Good luck to him I say after what he went through.

I've no problems with Ricky, in fact i think he's a really decent fella and deserves a nice pay cheque after the whole Warren/Hearn thing.

My issue with the article is that Ricky shouldn't be spoken in the same breath as the fighters in the article. That's not his fault in anyway, my gripe is the way in which modern boxing and the plethora of belts and organisations is really embarrassing for the sport. As I said I really like Ricky Burns and the article wasn't aimed at him as he's just trying to make a living.

I agree on that Pedro. It's becoming more and more watered down (which is why I try to ignore the ABC stuff and concentrate on who fighters beat and who proved themselves top man at the weight).

No doubt Burn's name doesn't really belong with these it's become so watered down now that said after what he's been through I dearly hope he wins on Saturday and gets that six figure purse against Broner almost too nice to be a boxer

Fair play to him but I read this on the tube this morning and it was the most embarassingly cringeworthy stuff I'd read in ages.

Have more time for Burns if he tried avenging his defeats.....Same with Amir who should be looking for Garcia..

Take these articles with a pinch of salt..

Articles like this are enough to convince you Sky have a vested interest in making fights they are showing sound more exciting or significant than they are.

Burns isn't an easy sell....Decent guy in an ABC world who has an efficient but not appealing style.

Good luck to him...He's a grounded guy who probably would be the first to giggle at SKY's audacity..

Nice guy.

Hatton says Relikh is the real deal someone on youtube said he's got a Gennady Golovkin look about him

Burns is an absolute bum. Padded up record and two of his championships where vacate when he inherited them. 3 weight chump.

Jermaine2015 wrote:Burns is an absolute bum. Padded up record and two of his championships where vacate when he inherited them. 3 weight chump.

Yep! Bit harsh, but true.

A man of his limited talent, being a 3 weight world champ, makes a bit of mockery of the sport.

Broner at 4 weights is as bad!!

TopHat24/7 wrote:Broner at 4 weights is as bad!!

Disgrace! Though he is a bit better than Burns.

Used to be a fan of Cardle...But struggling with that last guy twice has made me wonder if he is that good.

Hooper has only 4 kos..This will be a waste of time.

Whyte should be dealing with a plodder better than that..6ft and 19 and a 1/2 stone...Disgrace..

Alex Arthur makes Whyte sound like Ali.....

Maybe he can replace Halling.

Winds me up truss. Fitness is the one thing any boxer can have, no excuse for being that size. He had a five week camp. If he is that size after five week training how fat was he before that, shameful.

70 lbs heavier than the oldies though...

Hope Burns wins this, just so he can get the Broner pay day. Will be a shame if he retires potless.

Imagine Meldrick Taylor against these two ??...

Happytravelling wrote:Hope Burns wins this, just so he can get the Broner pay day. Will be a shame if he retires potless.

Burns doesn't deserve a payday. Padded up record and very poor champion

If there is a hard way to win... Burns will always find it..

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:If there is a hard way to win... Burns will always find it..

helps that the opponent is awful...

And to top it off Adam Smith barks out this nonsense 'Ricky Burns is world class'

Sorry Jermaine, you're talking b@ll@cks. He blew Mitchell away. he's not the worst champ and he's still almost bankrupt, because of his court case.

How you can pick on Burns, when I mentioned Broner in the same comment defies me.

A 4 weight champ who's been exposed by Maidana.

Burns hasn't been the most dominant champ. In fact, he's been inconsistent, but he's more deserving of retiring comfortably than Broner

Happytravelling wrote:Sorry Jermaine, you're talking b@ll@cks. He blew Mitchell away. he's not the worst champ and he's still almost bankrupt, because of his court case.

How you can pick on Burns, when I mentioned Broner in the same comment defies me.

A 4 weight champ who's been exposed by Maidana.

Burns hasn't been the most dominant champ. In fact, he's been inconsistent, but he's more deserving of retiring comfortably than Broner

Shut up you clown. Burns is a European level bum.

As for Broner, I don't care about that fool either.

Relikh winning for me but will get robbed...

115-113 Relikh

Jermaine2015 wrote:

Happytravelling wrote:Sorry Jermaine, you're talking b@ll@cks. He blew Mitchell away. he's not the worst champ and he's still almost bankrupt, because of his court case.

How you can pick on Burns, when I mentioned Broner in the same comment defies me.

A 4 weight champ who's been exposed by Maidana.

Burns hasn't been the most dominant champ. In fact, he's been inconsistent, but he's more deserving of retiring comfortably than Broner

Shut up you clown. Burns is a European level bum.

As for Broner, I don't care about that fool either.

Carry on insulting other users and calling fighters bums, see how that works out for you.

Jermaine, you're embarrassing yourself.

He dominated Mitchell, who close to beat Linares. He best Martinez. In most people's opinions he near Figaruoa.

And he drew with Beltran.

All world champs and challengers.

European level. Like your fight prediction, you're wrong.

Now put your red nose back on and get in your funny car.

The absolute state of those cards!!! 118-110 and 116-112 x2

Embarrassing scorecards

118-108
116-112
116-112

Did anyone think it was a knockdown? He seemed to land 3 punches and then Burns went down.

Hahaha 118

Lmfao

He won the first two clearly and at least 2 of the last three

Only giving him 2 rounds is absolute bull carp

And that for me is the end of my boxing viewing.
Frak joke Kumquat cards
Take care gents

Happytravelling wrote:Jermaine, you're embarrassing yourself.

He dominated Mitchell, who close to beat Linares. He best Martinez. In most people's opinions he near Figaruoa.

And he drew with Beltran.

All world champs and challengers.

European level. Like your fight prediction, you're wrong.

Now put your red nose back on and get in your funny car.

Beltran won that fight clear and got robbed.

Kevin Mitchell? A guy that never bothered getting into shape for his fights.

Martinez has subsequently been ruined by Garcia and Lomachenko.

Ruined by world class elite fighters

Oh what a hugely damaging loss.........

Rowley wrote:

Jermaine2015 wrote:

Happytravelling wrote:Sorry Jermaine, you're talking b@ll@cks. He blew Mitchell away. he's not the worst champ and he's still almost bankrupt, because of his court case.

How you can pick on Burns, when I mentioned Broner in the same comment defies me.

A 4 weight champ who's been exposed by Maidana.

Burns hasn't been the most dominant champ. In fact, he's been inconsistent, but he's more deserving of retiring comfortably than Broner

Shut up you clown. Burns is a European level bum.

As for Broner, I don't care about that fool either.

Carry on insulting other users and calling fighters bums, see how that works out for you.

Will do...

Jermaine, you're a clown.

You carp about Beltran (whose challenged for how many world titles?) But ignore the fact most people had Burns beat Figaruoa, a world title holder.

Your denigrate Mitchell who went 10 rounds with and had Linares in trouble. And nobody is doubting Linares is world class. Mitchell who had 3 world title challenges.

And you denigrate the world champ Martinez.

So, despite beating and running close all the world titlists and perennial world title challengers, he's European level. Muppet.

He's inconsistent, I'll give you that but he's had enough fights with world level performers to demonstrate he's better than EU level, as you claim.

I thought Ricky was looking comfortable in the middle rounds but was wondering if Relikh did enough late on to just squeak it? Could have gone either way or a draw also

Give Burns credit....He certainly is a Survivor...

Broner should be a step too far...

Think you are right truss

Broner isn't a small lww either and he is fast

Happytravelling wrote:Jermaine, you're a clown.

You carp about Beltran (whose challenged for how many world titles?) But ignore the fact most people had Burns beat Figaruoa, a world title holder.

Your denigrate Mitchell who went 10 rounds with and had Linares in trouble. And nobody is doubting Linares is world class. Mitchell who had 3 world title challenges.

And you denigrate the world champ Martinez.

So, despite beating and running close all the world titlists and perennial world title challengers, he's European level. Muppet.

He's inconsistent, I'll give you that but he's had enough fights with world level performers to demonstrate he's better than EU level, as you claim.

What's Linares gotta do with Burns? Burns fought an unfit Mitchell. The Mitchell that LOST to Linares would've destroyed Burns.

Burns isn't a world champion, just a belt holder. Always fought for vacate belts or the weakest belt holder.

If that's the criteria I would say the majority of belt holders arent then

Apart from the number one and two in each division

BoxingFan88 wrote:If that's the criteria I would say the majority of belt holders arent then

Apart from the number one and two in each division

Well obviously

Then fair enough

Well done Jermaine! Focus and dissect one or two of my examples and ignore the others!

You're a shameless clown. Go back below your bridge and leave adult talk to those who understands it.

It's ok everyone loves a trier, and no one will deny Burns leaves it all in the ring. Unfortunately for Burns he lacks talent and skills. Only reason Burns luckily got three belts is because of all these ABC organisations. In the era of one championship,Burns Wouldn't have made it passed EU level.

Martinez, Katsidis, Mitchell and Moses suggests he's better than European level, there's far worse world champions than Burns Gerry.