WBO World Lightweight Title
Ricky Burns, Scotland V Jose Gonzalez, Puerto Rico
Emirates Arena, Glasgow
This was the main event of the evening, before the fighters made their way to the ring the crowd were treated to a couple of vibrant arousing songs that echoed around the arena as if you were at a party with thousands of likeminded people singing along to ‘Cheer Up Sleepy Jean’ by The Monkeys and a song that was brought back to life in the UK by the one and only Peter Kay, ‘Amarillo’. Two ring girls held flags representing both countries but the Gonzalez camp brought in a huge Puerto Rican Flag that almost stretched three quarters of the ring. The song they played for Gonzalez was a Latino number upon which a few brandies and a dance floor would have come in handy, Burns had a lone Scottish Piper playing ‘The Flower of Scotland’ on once outlawed Bagpipes. There was no one singing the song on the microphone so the announcer asked the huge crowd to join in, I was sitting 3 rows back from the ring and the crowd just burst into song and you could feel the hairs on the back of your neck standing up.
When it was only Burns, switch-hitting Gonzalez and the American referee who were left in the ring his last word to the fighters were “God bless you”, both fighters touched gloves then the bell rang. Gonzalez came out and caught Burns with a good right to the body, Burns continued to persevere throwing straight shots to the head trying to find his distance and he had the look of a man who was desperate to impress throwing a vast volume of punches. Gonzalez looked a strong, cool customer working mostly to the body of Burns who was still headhunting procuring satisfaction at times. Gonzalez threw Burns away with his right hand 3rd and was starting to land some big shots, he demonstrated a variety of punches from all angles using good body movement from the hips. Gonzalez continued to work to the body, Burns started to double up the jab followed by the rear hand, backing his man up as he continued to follow his man around the ring and landing a sterling body punch that resulted in the two boxers almost standing toe to toe pounding each other as if it were the last round. Gonzalez came out in the 5th trapping Burns against the ropes unleashing a volley of destructive punches and Burns just smiled at him before landing a clean stiff right, Burns was back against the ropes receiving more of the same from a man who had stopped 15 out of his last 16 opponents but finished the round pressing Gonzalez onto the back foot. Gonzalez looping long arms were catching Burns more often than not in the 6th; he looked like he was all out to stop his man, Burns was still showing itinerant footwork and caught Gonzalez with a cracking right hand. It was a big round for Gonzalez in the 7th, he was catching Burns with a lot of hefty blows from the middle of the ring to the ropes and for that moment it looked like a worrying time for Burns, however at the start of the 8th Burns was smiling and looking rejuvenated as he came out landing to the body and head, trapping Gonzalez against the ropes throwing explosive punches that must have left a telling concept of bewilderment to a man who had previously dominated the last few rounds. The crowd were on their feet singing ‘There’s only one Ricky Burns’, and it looked like the tide had turned. Gonzalez had been late in coming out his corner on more than a few occasions and he did the same in the 9th. Burns’ relentless style of boxing never let up and a couple of pulverizing body shots to either side of Gonzalez looked like he took the wind out his sails, Burns clearly won the round backtracking Gonzalez like a predator moving in for the kill. At the start of the 10th the referee looked round for Gonzalez who was gulping for air like a fish out of water but he was once again still on his stool and when he went over to confront the Puerto Rican, Gonzalez shook his head. The fight was over and within a couple of seconds Ricky’s Promoter Eddie Hearn jumped in the ring and lifted him in the air almost dancing with him. It was an incredible performance by Burns; he is an exciting fighter to watch and a true champion, he has now been in 8 WBO World Lightweight Championship fights and won the lot. This performance was a statement to the rest of the division and using Ricky’s own words “Say suhin”. The referee awarded the fight in favour of Ricky Burns due to Gonzalez retiring on his stool at the end of the 9th round.
Summary of the undercard
Vacant WBC International Silver Super-Featherweight Title over 12 X 3 minute rounds between John Simpson, Greenock and Choi, Mongolia who entered the ring wearing a furry Davy Crocket style hat. John Simpson’s facial expression never changed throughout the fight, Choi was more animated than a boy who fell of his bike going down a set of stairs. Simpson was by far the more accurate puncher although Choi threw punches in abundance. Simpson’s nose was burst by the 4th round making it harder to breath but it did not show in his work rate or ethics. Simpson stuck to boxing whereas Choi threw a lot of wild punches gaining success at times especially in the 8th round. Simpson started to let the punches go in the 9th. Choi started stalking Simpson which led to a few good exchanges. Simpson’s nose bleed was apparently visible over the remaining rounds but it did not have an effect on his superior precision punching. Choi worked very hard throughout the fight throwing more punches but Simpson stuck to his guns and was landing the cleaner shots. It was a hard fight to predict and after 12 rounds of boxing, the judges’ scorecards read 116-112, 116-112 and 116-113 all in favour of John Simpson who becomes the new WBO Inter-Continental Super-Featherweight Champion.
Vacant Celtic Cruiserweight Title over 10 X 3 minute rounds between Stephen Simmons, Edinburgh and Michael Sweeney, County Mayo. Simmons worked behind a solid jab followed occasionally by the rear hand. It was almost evident from the outset that Sweeney had his work cut out and a solid left hook from Simmons had his man down for the count of 8 in the 1st. Simmons totally dominated the 2nd finding range with straights, hooks and a healthy rear hand hammer before the bell sounded. Simmons stuck to his style of boxing with everything coming off the jab that knocked Sweeney’s head back twice in the 3rd, Sweeney tried to make a fight of it but a body shot followed by a sharp jab and right hook from Simmons had Sweeney confused and dismayed. Sweeney refused to get off his stool at the beginning of the 4th so the referee had no alternative to award the fight in favour of Stephen Simmons who remains unbeaten and is the new Celtic Cruiserweight Champion.
David Brophy,Cauldercruix and Gary Boulden, Shepperton in a 6 X 3 minute Middleweight contest. Former Southern Area Champion Boulden started the fight well switching his attack from head to body. Brophy began to find the target in the second and stepped up his work rate, Boulden was finding it difficult to get through the tight defence of Brophy. Boulden was getting through on occasions but Brophy was in charge, a left hook rocked back Boulden’s head just after the halfway point. The 5th round was all Brophy, he was now in cruise control and picking his shots. When the bell rang for the last round Brophy was shadowing his man landing a hard left hook, Boulden put up a fight and there was a good couple of exchanges before the final bell rang. The man from Shepperton put up a brave performance but the referee scored the contest 58 -57 in favour of David Brophy who remains unbeaten.
English Super-Middleweight Champion Rocky Fielding, Liverpool and Michal Nieroda, Poland fought in a contest over 8 X 3 minute rounds. Rocky Fielding entered the ring to the tune of Eye of the Tiger, he looked very strong and confident and it showed as he came out with a vicious assault on Nieroda, a hard right to the body brought about a count of 8. Fielding absolutely overpowered his man and the referee had to step in and award the contest to Rocky Fielding RSC 1st and still remains unbeaten.
Michael Roberts, Glasgow and southpaw Mariusz Bak, Brentford fought in a Super-Featherweight contest over 6 X 3 minute rounds. Michael Roberts wore tartan shorts the length of a kilt that were divided into strips like a set of curtains, they looked very flashy and so did his boxing. Roberts started with a three punch combination and a single jab that forced his opponents head back, he procured a fighting style that kept him out of trouble in the early rounds and allowed him to land classy clever eye catching blows but his opponent was up for it, a clash of heads in the 3rd round left Roberts with a gash on the corner of his eye that needed seven stitches after the fight. Roberts’ corner men done a good job on the eye, he looked sharp and slick at the start off the 4th, Bak was continually coming forward and slipped through the ropes near the end of the round. In the 5th Roberts showed some clever boxing to dismay his opponent but Bak was having a good round catching Roberts with a few quality hooks. Bak hardly took a backward step throughout the fight and in the last round a straight rear hand knocked Roberts across the ring. The referee announced the decision 58 – 57 in favour of Michael Roberts and he remains unbeaten.
Johnathan Slowey, Glasgow and Eddie Nesbitt, Belfast squared up in a Super-Featherweight contest over 6 X 3 minute rounds. Nesbitt came into the fight with 3 straight wins - 2 inside the distance, while Slowey was unbeaten in 13 fights. Slowey has great ring craft, body movement and is a stylish boxer but Nesbitt was taking the fight to him working hard in the opening round. Slowey started to double up the jab effectively, a solid right hand from Nesbitt and a straight rear hand to the body by Slowey. Nesbitt was relentless in coming forward throwing combinations and Slowey had to be resilient with his body movement to deter his man, however, he did manage to knock Nesbitt to the canvass in the 3rd round. In the 4th Nesbitt caught Slowey in the corner and unloaded a bombardment of punches, you could see the determination in the man. Slowey went back on the jab, counter punching his man with a neat rear hand hook. There was a good exchange in the 5th round, Slowey was landing cleaner punches but Nesbitt looked strong and in the last round it was almost all Nesbitt who was landing big straight left-right shots and clearly knocked Slowey’s head back. The referee scored the contest 58 -56 in favour of Jonathan Slowey who remains unbeaten.
By Raymond Fraser Buchanan
It was an immense evening of boxing, Ricky Burns showed tremendous heart and resolve against a worthy opponent and It was a magnificent Emirates Arena debut for Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Promotion’s.
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