Ricky Burns: Boxing Perfection
By Donald C. Stewart
If you go to Coatbridge, near Glasgow, you will find a fairly depressing place. That is not to say that it doesn’t have its bright spots but the town has certainly seen better days.
It is an industrial hangover from a time when the cities of Scotland were great industrial centers, giving the United Kingdom a backbone. Scottish cities were to become a major contributor to the Empire that Britain was trying to make great. Now, with the failure of that massive global experiment came the downturn in fortunes that is now seen with the scars in places like Coatbridge.
The escape for people trapped within these places to be different and claw back usually comes one of three ways. Particularly young men grow up believing that either through the arts, the national sport, football or boxing come glory and redemption.
Working class areas – where there are now few working people – can drag the spirit out of you and you need to become as robust as the latest WBO Champion – Mr. Ricky Burns esquire of Coatbridge 33-2, 9 KO’s.
February 2012 was when Ricky was confirmed as the WBO Lightweight Champion thanks to Juan Manual Marquez 53-6-1,39 KO’s, deciding to relinquish the title and move up a weight division. It was exactly what Ricky had done last year when he decided to take on boxers at the heavier Lightweight division and make the scales far more comfortably than he had had managed beforehand. The fight against Michael Katsidis late last year was testimony to the wisdom of that decision. Katsidis is a warrior and many thought Ricky was quite simply nuts to take him on!
What we witnessed was a boxer who needed no moaning or referees to make the decision for him as he beat Katsidis in a cultured display that many believe was his finest win. That would be because it was.
As well as the ruggedness of the area in which he grew up, Burns has the steely determination that won the WBO Featherweight title, relinquished it and then climbed into the ring with another world class act and beat him. A professional fighter for over 10 years, Burns first entered the pro ring in 2001.
Burns started the hard way – taking on undefeated fighters and beating them. By 2006 he was ready to take on another Scot in Alex Arthur 30-1, 21 KO’s, for the triple glory of the British, Commonwealth and European belts at featherweight. It was his first professional defeat.
The pathway towards World glory for UK based fighters is the domestic title, followed either by the European or alternatively the Commonwealth belt. Unlike most geographically based belts, this strap can be quite a daunting prospect. It replaced the old Empire Championship as we got away from the stink of Colonialism towards a brave new dawn of equality. Countries such as Australia, Canada, India, Pakistan and every nation with which Great Britain had an “interest” or over which they exerted control could send fighters to compete for the title. It leaves fighters with another route if they wish to get noticed.
Losing not one but there opportunities must have hurt. Burns is however made of sterner stuff. Just how robust he was, was tested a year later when he suffered his second defeat against Carl Johanneson. They do say that, in this game there is no room for sentiment and Burns changed trainers and gym straight after. The result of changing the influences around him brought the Commonwealth belt and 3 successful defenses. People were taking note of this young, shy and unassuming lad from Scotland. Burns’ modesty has always lead to much comment as he is like many Scots –awaiting the tap on the shoulder to remind us we were never that good and should give it a rest!
On the 4th of September 2010, Ricky climbed into the ring with yet another unbeaten fighter and one many would triumph easily. For heaven’s sake Roman Martinez had even agreed to fight in Glasgow!
When Ricky hit the canvas in the first round, we all feared the worst but what followed cemented Ricky in our hearts. What you saw was pure Scotsman – the wee guy getting up, dusting himself down and showing what he can do if bothered.
3 defenses later, Burns believed he was ready for his next stage and gave up the belt to go up a weight. The fight against Katsidis made our 12th World Champion a legend. Now that he is a confirmed World Champion at a 2nd weight he has cemented his reputation in ways that true champions do.
The fight against Paulus Moses 28-1, 19 KO’s, on the 10th of March will see him defend the title once again in Glasgow. Perhaps the only criticism is that Burns has not fought outside the UK.
Back to that modesty thing…
Burns will gather his riches from home and may decide the bright lights are not for him. As a hero from that industrial wasteland he may have found his own perfection. For those who follow him that perfection is increasingly seen with gloves on and holding belts aloft at the end of fights.
