By Michael Collins: Last Saturday’s 8th round destruction of WBC lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco by Adrien Broner showed me enough feel that WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns would still little if any chance against the unbeaten Broner and that’s who Burns could end up fighting in early 2013 unless he chooses to move up in weight again. That would be a pity to see Burns move up in weight rather than face Broner.
Actually, I think that might not be a bad idea for Burns to move up one division rather than facing Broner and taking a royal beating. Burns moved up in weight when Broner was trying to get a fight with him last year when Burns held the WBO super featherweight strap, and I think it might be a smart move for Burns to make another move up in weight instead of fighting Broner.
Burns has good boxing skills and is really tying up his competition when they have a little big of power by clinching a lot. However, I don’t think Burns would do well even with strategy against the likes of Broner. Burns could hold Broner all night long and still end up getting knocked out because of Broner’s excellent fighting skills and his big power.
Broner said after his win over DeMarco that he’s interested in fighting Burns, as long as the fight takes place in the United States, or Juan Manuel Marquez. Believe me, Broner won’t get a fight against Marquez. That’s not going to happen. Marquez is facing Manny Pacquiao on December 8th, and win or lose, Marquez will likely fight another Top Rank fighter after that.
Burns does well against guys like Kevin Mitchell and to a lesser extent Michael Katsidis. However, Broner is so much better than those guys and Burns would be way out of his class if he chooses to take that fight, which I don’t think he will.