RICKY BURNS, the former two-weight world champion from Coatbridge, chiselled out a 39th career win at Liverpool’s Echo Arena at the weekend but it was not the work of the master craftsman he once was.
By defeating little known Australian Josh King and avoiding an unthinkable fourth defeat in six contests, Burns added another title to his CV in the form of the vacant WBO Inter-Continental crown, by dint of an 11th round stoppage.
But the manner of his success was less than wholly satisfying after both boxers were deducted a point each by referee Marcus McDonnell, King for hitting in the fourth round after the official had instructed him to stop punching, and Burns in the 10th for using his head.
Indeed, Burns admitted that he will need to raise his game if he is to regain his status as a world champion in the foreseeable future after a fairly torrid two years.
It must also be hoped that his defeat by American Terence Crawford that ended his 42 month reign as super-featherweight and lightweight champion, in succession, has not left a permanent scar.
Burns, driven by the desire to make history by becoming the first Scot to achieve the distinction of being a three-time world champion, did offer the occasional glimpse of his former mastery, especially when delivering the knock-out blow.
King was floored by a cracking left hook to the body and was subsequently counted out by McDonnell, but there were other times when Burns was less than impressive, finding his opponent unnecessarily awkward as he struggled to rediscover his best form.
“I’m a bit disappointed,” Burns admitted. “It was a little scrappy and I didn’t box as instructed. My trainer, Tony Sims wanted me to work behind my jab and I tried to do that, but I know I can do a lot better.
“There are things to work on and I will be back in the gym doing that after a week off. There is still more to come from me, but the most important thing at the end of the day was getting the win.”
Burns is likely to be elevated into the top-15 in the WBO rankings following his 45th bout, but he would not be drawn on the possibility of a showdown with reigning world lightweight champion Terry Flanagan for his old belt, adding: “I leave that up to my team to decide where I go from here, but I’ll fight anybody.”
Burns was the chief support for the British super-middleweight showdown between local rivals Callum Smith and Rocky Fielding and Scott Cardle’s defence of his domestic lightweight crown against Sean Dodd.
In the event, Smith produced three first round knockdowns to make ring history as the fourth member of the family to become a British champion in the footsteps of fellow siblings Liam, Stephen and Paul.
Having wobbled his opponent with a wicked right to the temple inside the first 30 seconds, Fielding was soon caught twice more, by perfectly timed left hooks, and with Smith threatening to inflict considerable damage, referee Phil Edwards was persuaded to step in and call a halt to the utterly one-sided contest.
Cardle’s defence was a much more engrossing and protracted affair, with the champion retaining his Lonsdale Belt more by good fortune than superior ring craft.
Behind on the judges’ scorecards having been in trouble two rounds earlier, Cardle saved himself from defeat by producing a quite remarkable onslaught in the final 60 seconds of the bout, which floored Dodd and resulted in referee Terry O’Connor stepping in to end the fight despite the challenger having got back on his feet almost immediately.
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