I mentioned Linares as a good opponent for Ricky a while back. It's ridiculous that he is fighting commonwealth level opponents and if he is going to fight Broner next year as is being alluded to by many then he needs to prepare by testing himself at world level rather than domestic. I understand that ****** probably likes this as it is an in house fight and a win/win for him as whoever wins (obv Burns) he gets paid. However, is this the right thing for Burns? If he really is going to fight Broner next year is he in a better position to do so having fought a young domestic level prospect fighter in Walsh (who almost lost to Appleby) as his last fight? He has only fought twice this year so far and the Mitchell fight was hardly a long nights work out, if Ricky Burns gets beaten by Broner or DeMarco or whoever in 2013 I hope we don't hear complaints of a lack of activity or bad preparation as it is obvious to anyone that to warm up for a unification by fighting someone levels below you is a bad idea.
Hovhannisyan, Acosta available but Walsh is a bigger name in the UK and London. Linares - think he is having surgery. Lundy - moved up to 140, Hoon Kim - heard is rematching a guy he just beat.
Acosta is a bigger name in the US and known by the 30,000 subscribers of Box Nation. Honestly I would rather see a Nicky Cook rematch.
Why not get a WBO mandatory out of the way......because next year Burns wont be able to fight Broner as he has a mandatory due vs someone ****. Then Scott Harrison in a stadium fight. Big 2013 for The Rickster.
I don't think Burns is actually scared of the other lw's and do think he probably does want the big fights but he just doesn't seem to want them enough to jump and down about it to w***** any time soon, but he is probably happy enough earning a few quid for home defences in fairness. After this fight though, if he announces Harrison or John Murray as his next opponent I will really start to lose interest altogether. Ricky Burns isn't the type to start Twitter wars or call out other names either so it's hard to see how a unification gets made as I am pretty certain his promoter won't be pushing it too hard.
Ricky isn't scared of these people and you can clearly tell he wants to fight them but it's all the other idiots who don't seem to want to make the fights
We all knew this would be a keep busy fight before a big fight was made for early next year, why the surprise?
I think the surprise is at the calibre of the opponent, why not take a keep busy fight against a higher ranked and better opponent? Possibly one that gives him some more exposure in the states before his impending unification fight over there, and gives the fans what they want to see? His last outing wasn't a 12 round war so he must be reasonably fresh after also taking an extended break to get married this year, it just makes sense to step it as good preparation for a bigger fight next year anyway. Ok not everyone will do a Carl Froch and take 9 or however many tough fights on the bounce but at least someone in the top 15, a decent contender or fringe level candidate on the world scene. No disrespect to Walsh but he's far too green for this fight and I give him very little chance.
Am i right in thinking Walsh is unbeaten?If so,this alone makes it interesting.People have been saying in answer to critics of Frochs next fight that he deserves a (relatively)easy one.Dont know whether this is,but doesnt Burns?I reckon hes beaten a few tough opponents also.Also that Walsh a better one than Harrison,at least at this stage,if not altogether due to his youth.
The Harrison fight might have to be down south,i dont htik there is a stadium big enough in Alba to hold it