I had an ominous feeling for Burns tonight

GONZALEZ WAS INJURED AND PULLED OUT.

Winning isnt everything, obviously. If he didnt feel he could give it 100% like in the rest of the fight, regardless of being way ahead, it shows the integrity (and thats the key word) the man has, if not "heart" as so many people are questioning. He raised Ricky's hand, not in actual defeat, but as a mark of respect in front of his adoring home fans. Deep down both fighters know who was winning the fight.

The bloke didnt need to prove anything. He was a class above Ricky Burns except for the 9th. He was obviously injured, and I'd understand some of you lot if Ricky was the one to land a unbelievable shot to cause the decline.

But he didnt.

Its a weird one, and I'm still shocked, as are lots of people. None more so than the trainer of Gonzalez.

Many fighters would have carried on, pushed on, finished and won the fight. But Gonzalez is obviously a sportsmen who wants to fight at his very best, or not at all. That should be admired not naively criticized. People can see for themselves what he was doing when he was at 100%. It wasnt actually anything Ricky did to change that that made him pull out. He was injured and didnt fancy risking further damage.

But I promise you if you read back that thread I did for the fight. I hate to pat myself on the back, but I nailed it.

So close, but yet so far on the result though. :yep

 

Anyone else like the 3 or 4 right hands Gonzalez sent to Burns body in a row in the 7th. I thought that was really nice I wouldn't shut up about it at the time.

 

Yes mate had him on the ropes and normally a fighter just throws for the sake of it but I thought that was a quality bit of work. First time I've seen Gonzalez think I'll be watching a bit more of him.

 

I agree he needed it. I don't think he let his recent success and growing profile get to his head, far from it, he seems like a grounded type of guy but maybe this will be both the shot in the arm and dare I say it, reality check(?) that he needs before going on to the bigger unification fights.

 

It was a great fight. At least I got that prediction right.

I knew Gonzalez would turn out to be a better boxer than the people who were giving him ****. "Crude Banger"

He shocked me, because he was better than even I thought he would be and I was rating him!!! :hey

Smooth operator man. Ricky was confused and clearly frustrated, until between rounds 9 and 10.

 

I just thought he was all round class. I was thinking how have we missed this guy? All the prospects that get talked about and he's never been mentioned.

I think the theory that he lost it in the 7th holds a lot of weight. I do believe he stepped it up that round and tried to get Ricky out of there. When Ricky didn't budge and even came back with one particularly big shot of his own (think it was a right hand), that was perhaps the tide turning. Next two rounds Ricky won just by been the busier fighter and Gonzalez didn't seem as keen as he was in the 7th. And Gonzalez had hardly lost a round in his career and the early part of the fight must have felt the same as every other fight he's had. But once his big assault failed and the Burns kept coming back perhaps he just wasn't up for a gruelling finish.

Poor fella's going to have to live with this for the rest of his career now.

 

That said everything about Gonzalez for me, I can't understand how anyone could think he's truly world class, a quality fighter picks his punches there and puts Burns on the floor, looked like a schoolyard fight tactic.

 

Reading a craney post kills millions of brain cells.

 

Dont read them then? :huh

I win. Yet again. :good

 

I don't.

I see a massive block of text and assume its your usual bollocks. I'm sure someone will confirm that to be the case.

 

Mentioned that myself earlier mate. In the 7th Ricky lands I think an uppercut while Gonzalez is pushing forward and his legs give for a second or so. Although he pushed a bit later in the round I don't think he ever got his legs back under him again. I'd be surprised if he has broken anything in the fight I think you're right he didn't like those last two rounds at all. Hope he comes back as he really was impressive but a thing like that could kill a career off.

How did I miss this. Jesus that was brutal how fast were those two shots.

Honestly that really impressed me. Ricky has a quality guard and those 3 or 4 shots to the body were the only thing on offer. Once he landed them Ricky dropped his guard and Gonzalez went up to the head. Personally I thought it was quality.