RICKY BURNS VS KEVIN MITCHELL
WBO LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
SECC, GLASGOW
22ND SEPTEMBER 2012
True 50/50 fights are something of a rarity in modern boxing. In these days of carefully managed fighters building up massive unbeaten records against over-matched hand-picked opponents, seldom is there a bout in which pre-fight opinion is divided almost down the middle. Last night however, the SECC in Glasgow played host to one of the most eagerly anticipated ‘pick em’ fights of recent years. Ricky Burns, the champion and the fighter with the home advantage, had been the bookies favourite since the fight had been announced. In the boxing world however, opinion was split, to the point that in many of the articles canvassing pre-fight opinion amongst those in the know the challenger, Dagenham’s Kevin Mitchell, appeared to be insider’s pick. The ‘smart’ money piled in on Mitchell, so much so that by the opening bell there had been a sizeable shift in the odds. The heavy-handed Mitchell was fancied by many to win by stoppage, repeating last year’s demolition of John Murray. If Burns was to win on the other hand, common consensus was that he would have to prevail over the distance, with his knockout percentage being extremely low for a world champion.
By the time the fighters were introduced, the sold out SECC was rocking to its very rafters. The Glasgow crowd, already whipped into a near manic state by the return of its prodigal son, the former two-time WBO champion of the world Scott Harrison, were singing their lungs out, the atmosphere more reminiscent of a packed out Hampden Park than the normally soulless shell of the Exhibition Centre. Despite that contest being a relatively damp squib, with the exception of a cracking left-handed first round knockdown inflicted by Harrison, their appetites had been whet. Mitchell was first to appear, looking incredibly focussed as he made his way to the ring, his stride confident and purposeful. Burns on the other hand looked slightly nervous as he entered to rapturous applause. Whether this was due to the pressure of headlining such a massive show, or whether it was simply caused by his respect for the man waiting on the other side of the ropes, there were definitely signs that the occasion appeared in danger of overwhelming the champion.
Once the legendary Michael Buffer had finished the introductions in his inimitable style, we were underway. Burns immediately got behind his jab, trying to feel out the challenger, throwing in a few range-finding right hands for good measure. Despite the undoubted ability of both men this was never likely to remain a technical bout for long and a good right hand over the top by Mitchell with 40 seconds left in the first led to some toe-to-toe action for the remainder of the round. After a very tight opener, Mitchell perhaps shaded it on the cards with the cleaner punches.
The second round started as the first ended, a battle of the jabs giving way to ‘fighting in a phone box’ confrontations at regular intervals. With a minute gone in the round Burns seemed to wobble Mitchell slightly with a left hook, which he immediately attempted to capitalise on with a flurry of punches, but the challenger managed to take most of these on the arms and gloves. Further exchanges followed, culminating in a fantastic right hand from the champion in the final minute of the round which shook the Englishman to his boots. Burns looked as if he had a point to prove with regards to his punching power, often questioned due to his afore-mentioned low knockout percentage, and at this point in the fight he was looking by far the stronger man, his frame appearing massive for the weight.
The third and fourth rounds continued in the same vein, both fighters landing solid shots in the many toe-to-toe exchanges, the challenger throwing some decent lefts early in the third before the champion regained his superiority with solid jabs and straight rights. At the bell for the fourth, Burns was off his stool early, grinning, clearly enjoying himself. Mitchell by contrast was slow to leave his corner, possibly an early sign of what was to come. After a decent start to the round by Mitchell, the seemingly unthinkable happened. With 55 seconds of the round left, the champion landed what must be the shot of his career, a fantastic short left hook which just about removed Mitchell from his shoes. The stunned challenger took a knee for the eight-count, using his experience to take full advantage of the recovery time, but upon rising to his feet he appeared to sag slightly when tested by the referee. The action was allowed to continue however and Burns, sensing blood and roared on by the partisan home crowd, leapt forward with another flurry of hooks, a right hand this time appearing to do the damage, and Mitchell again hit the canvas, weighed down under the sheer volume of punches. Again getting to his feet, the challenger almost managed to ride out the round, but after getting caught on the ropes with mere seconds to go he left referee Terry O’Connor no choice but to step in and call a halt to the fight after 2.59 of the fourth round. Needless to say, the SECC crowd erupted. The vociferous celebrations from the Glasgow fight fans were deafening as Burns climbed the ropes to acknowledge his supporters.
With this victory, Burns has surely silenced any remaining doubters. Pound for pound he must now be considered top of the pile domestically. What lies next for the champion remains to be seen. With all due respect to the current crop of domestic lightweights, none of them are in his class. Given how massive Burns looked against Mitchell, Wales’ European Champion Gavin Rees would surely be too small to trouble Burns, who you feel could cruise along for 12 rounds behind his jab, and the all-Scottish bout with Scott Harrison which was being touted pre-fight now seems a ludicrous proposition, given the contrast between the sluggish performance put on by the former champion and the electric one served up by Scotland’s current golden boy. In the post-fight interview Burns, Promoter Frank Warren and Manager Billy Nelson talked about a unification bout, with the champion seemingly having his heart set on the vacant Ring magazine lightweight title. The only two fighters now ranked above Burns in the Ring Magazine ratings are the WBC title holder Antonio DeMarco and the man wearing the IBF strap, Miguel Vasquez. On this showing, the ‘Rickster’ should have no reason to fear either. With the Coatbridge man now firmly ensconced amongst the Jim Watts and Ken Buchanans of this world, any further success for the two-weight champion will surely place him amongst not only the best fighters Scotland has ever produced, but well on his way to becoming one of the all-time British greats.
{SQUARE} {SQUARE1} {SQUARE2}
{loadposition SQUARE3}
