Ricky Burns Fighter Profile, Bio & Career Record: 34 (9) – 2
Ricky Burns smiled for the cameras, a world title draped across him. His happiness in this moment was the result of years of hard graft, work that had allowed him to stare down defeat before summing up the courage and energy required to clasp a hold of the WBO Super-Featherweight Title following a grueling battle with Roman Martinez. How did he get there, and what happened next? Enjoy our fighter profile and Ricky Burns bio right here.
Early Career
Burns turned professional at the age of 18, beating Woody Greenway over four rounds at light-welterweight. After just shy of two years out of the ring, Burns returned in 2004 to continue his development, this time having boiled down in weight.
In 2005, Burns showed a sign of things to come, nudging the applecart ever so slightly with an eight round unanimous decision over the then British champion, Graham Earl.
When Earl vacated the aforementioned title his successor was the former holder, Alex Arthur. Burns was called into an all-Scottish battle for the British title in Arthur’s second defense of his regained belt, though on this occasion Ricky’s inexperience told, losing on points over twelve. Burns found himself wanting once more over the distance, losing to Arthur’s successor Carl Johanneson for the same belt one year later.
Undaunted, Burns pressed on. Eventually settling at super-featherweight, he notched the Commonwealth strap with a points victory over tough African Osumanu Akaba. A stoppage of the shop-worn Michael Gomez gave him greater recognition, and two more wins set him up for an unlikely world title challenge.
World Title Victory
Burns, having been well maneuvered by Frank Warren, was set up for a world title tilt against Puerto Rico’s Roman Martinez. A sellout crowd at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall assembled to rally their local pride towards the WBO super featherweight strap, creating an atmosphere where waves of noise buoyed Burns on at every turn. Suffering a first round knockdown to the heavy handed champion, Burns was rocked back on his heels on occasion, but boxed well to earn a hard-fought decision. The unimaginable had been pulled off. Just four months prior, Burns had fought journeyman Youssef Al Hamidi. This night was his though, and he set about planning to defend the newly-won belt.
Title Defenses and move up to Lightweight
Having seen off two hand-picked opponents, Burns defended the WBO super-featherweight belt one last time, against former owner Nicky Cook. Well past his best, Cook seemed to hurt his hip in the opening round and was unable to continue. An unsatisfactory ending to the contest, but the win paved the route for Burns’ move up to lightweight.
With many tipping Michael Katsidis to walk through Burns in similar fashion to his mauling of Kevin Mitchell, the Scotsman entered the ring amidst a general feeling of slight trepidation. A display of beautiful boxing, incorporating body shots and uppercuts, however, saw to it that Burns picked up the interim WBO strap at his new weightclass.
With Juan Manuel Marquez moving up, Burns was made full WBO champion at 135 pounds. In his first initiation, he saw off the well capable Paulus Moses over twelve comfortable rounds. Boxing well once more in the face of quality opposition, Burns cemented his place as one of Britain’s best fighters circa 2012.
Next Up
Burns will take on Kevin Mitchell in Glasgow on September 22nd. It has been a fight often talked of in the United Kingdom, and should provide thrills as two of the worlds best at lightweight square off in what will likely be a cauldron of excitement when the night arrives.
