Ricky Burns Makes Boxing History!
I was there! History was made and for a nation of around 6 Million people who have a diaspora the length of the world… Scotland provided its first – YUP FIRST – ever 3 weight world champion!!! Ricky Burns!
The fight itself was a little fire cracker. Burns, 40-5-1, 14 KO’s, stopped Michelle Di Rocco, 40-2-1, 18 KO’s, after 8 rounds of punishment from the wee guy with the big heart. This was Burns at his best. Better than I have seen him for years and despite all the trouble with which he has battled the smile on Burns face was wider than the river that spawned the city.
In Scotland we like an underdog. We adore anybody – man or woman – who has had to battle against the elements, endure the slings and avoid the arrows of outrage and Burns epitomises that. He came into the ring as a challenger and he left as a champion because he and his trainer, Tony Sims had plan A. It worked so well that they abandoned plan B and kept with the one that was working.
Burns was able to jab without retort, unload without worry and smash through Di Rocco’s defences at will. This was an incredible statement and now Burns can look to rebuild his finances through fights that shall earn him serious money. Will it be Broner? Will Burns look to light welterweight? Will he want revenge over boxers who came to see him and left with his belts? Who knows? Who even cares…
This is a career that was bankrupt and is now rich in promise. And the guy at the middle of it? Humble. Respectful. Scottish. Makes ye proud…
And so to this weekend and the next step up in the career ladder for an Olympian that is very much under the radar. Whilst James DeGale, 23-1. 14 KO’s, and Anthony Joshua, 16-0, 16 KO’s may have taken the headlines being our biggest names from Beijing in 2008 and London 2012, one name has been lost a little in the hype and melee of expectation. Thomas Stalker, 10-1-3 2 KO’s was captain of the most successful British Olympic boxing team of all time. In 2012 he led majestically but was unable to gain a medal for himself.
Now the Liverpudlian lightweight will take on Portugal’s Antonio Joao Bento for the vacant WBO European lightweight belt this coming weekend. Unlike both DeGale and Joshua, Stalker has not had a smooth or nearly smooth ride to the top. This weekend it shall be Stalker’s third attempt for the European belt; he drew not once but twice against Craig Evans in his last two fights for the crown. In fact, Stalker has drawn his last 3 fights!
Speaking to Sky Sports, Stalker said, “A win would secure me a top ten or fifteen world ranking; it would be massive for me. When I win this belt I’m sure more big fights will follow. I’ve had a good eleven months with my new trainer Danny Vaughan and I feel like everything is coming together now. Even though I’m not a spring chicken anymore in boxing terms I still think I haven’t reached my prime yet. I’m constantly learning and striving to be better.”
Bento is no fool. He has managed a fantastic 18 knockouts from 30 wins and has only been stopped three times over a professional career of 16 years.
For Stalker though, this is a massive opportunity as getting into the top 10 or 15 with any of the organisations would guarantee him getting to a world title fight that would cement his legacy after the bitter sweet pill of an Olympics that brought communal joy and personal disappointment.
This is a lightweight contender with a tremendous amateur pedigree for whom the sport has a very good future if he can finally turn the draws into wins. For me I think Stalker has the guile and the equipment to go far – as far as he wishes. Saturday should be the next step on the next Olympian journey to the summit.
[si-contact-form form=’2′]