LightWeight

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Marcos Rene Maidana headline Saturday night's card from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but the battle between IBF lightweight champion Miguel "The Puppet" Vazquez (34-3, 13 KO) and Mickey Bey (20-1-1, 10 KO) might wind up being the best fight of the night.

It all goes down at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will be broadcast exclusively by Showtime pay-per-view beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

According to OddsShark.com, Vazquez is just a minus-278 favorite in the fight. 

This figures to be a very close contest that could be controversial and thrilling.

Vazquez needs an opponent who can push him. His four-year reign as IBF champion has occurred in relative obscurity. Facing Bey, a member of Mayweather's Money Team, will bring Vazquez as much attention as any fight he's had in his career.

Bey truly needs the win to escape the stigma of being an underachiever. He's long been considered one of—if not the best—of Mayweather's fighters. It's time he made good on his promise.

The dynamics and mix of styles are what makes this such a compelling fight. 

Elite and Unknown

If you asked boxing fans to name the top 10 champions in the world, most would not mention Vazquez's name. Despite the fact that he's been a world champion since 2010 and defended his title eight times, he's still a relative unknown to casual fans.

The only losses in Vazquez's career came to Timothy Bradley and Canelo Alvarez (twice) when both were smaller and younger.

At 27 years old and standing 5'10", you would think that Vazquez would have outgrown the lightweight division, but that hasn't been the case.

The slim man from Guadalajara, Mexico continues to make weight. He uses his long arms and expert boxing skills to befuddle opponents. Though he doesn't hit extremely hard, he has excellent footwork, in-ring savvy and punching accuracy.

He's a pain to solve, but apparently a bore to watch. That's not a good combination for a boxer in search of fame. Will this be the fight that shows Vazquez abandon his defensive-oriented tactics for more of a crowd-pleasing display?

Moment of Truth

TMT's @MickeyBeyTMT says he's looking forward to taking @titerevazquez IBF belt on Saturday #Mayhem pic.twitter.com/38gMM8NFH3

— Mayweather Promotions (@MayweatherPromo) September 9, 2014

Legendary hip hop group Gang Starr said this in the classic "Moment of Truth" track:

"Nobody's invincible, no plan is foolproof. We all must meet our moment of truth."

Bey had any aura of in-ring invincibility snatched when he was knocked out by John Molina in the 10th round of a fight he was dominating. Seemingly on his way to a title shot, the wheels came off all at once with a hard right hand from the rugged Molina. 

The championship plan was out the window for the time being. 

The best boxer in Mayweather promotions is Mickey Bey

— Eddie Chambers (@champfasteddie) September 9, 2014

Come Saturday, Bey will face his moment of truth. At 31 years old, he is no longer an up-and-coming young superstar. He's at the age where he should have already won his first title, if he is indeed worthy of the praise he received as a prospect.

Vid @FloydMayweather message to @MickeyBeyTMT http://t.co/6St4xMZdpH #boxing

— Elie Seckbach (@Seckbach) September 10, 2014

When he battles Vazquez on Saturday, the only way for him to truly realize his potential is by coming away with the title.

Prediction

Bey is an above-average boxer, but his pure boxing skills aren't a match for Vazquez's. Because of this, Bey would be better off getting inside and roughing up the champion's thinner frame.

Going to the body is a key. He must find a way to slow Vazquez down to make closing the distance easier. 

Bey is only one inch shorter than the champion, so that helps, but does he have the stamina to keep up the pace he'll need to beat The Puppet?

Vazquez is always in excellent condition. He's always ready to go 12 rounds and he's traditionally judicious with his punches.

Vazquez utilizes a sharp jab, a lot of clinching and lateral movement. For him it's all about efficiency.

Bey is generally an active fighter when he's at his best. Before being stopped by Molina, he'd thrown an average of 53 punches per round in that fight.

Because of his activity and Vazquez's lack of power, this seems like a fight Bey can win. However, Vazquez is the type of champion that always seems to find a way. 

In a fight that can go either way, I'm going to go with Mickey Bey as the winner by split decision in a close and disputed call by the judges.

Sometimes people step up when they finally reach the proving grounds. 

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.

Scotland's No. 1 fighter, Ricky Burns, returns to action tonight on the comeback trail just over three months after losing his WBO lightweight belt to unbeaten American stand-out Terence Crawford.

His opponent is the unheralded Dejan Zlaticanin, from Montenegro, who is yet to fight outside of Eastern Europe—but who has built a cosmetically appealing record of 18-0, with 13 stoppage wins.

A minor WBC title will be on the line with Burns' promoter Eddie Hearn hoping to land a future bout between his charge and the young WBC champion Omar Figueroa, who Hearn has called "probably the weakest champion" in the division.

Of the four main bodies, Zlaticanin is only ranked with the WBC but he is a respectable 20th on BoxRec's computerised rankings. The bookmakers are less taken with the Montenegrin, with some pricing Burns as strong as a 10-1 on favourite. 

The away fighter does have one good name on his record, a win over Petr Petrov last year. Petrov has since won three straight fights in the US to claim ESPN's 2014 Boxcino Lightweight Tournament, thus rising to 10th with BoxRec.

The victory over Petrov was one of three occasions on which Zlaticanin has gone the full 12-round distance, so inexperience should not be a handicap for him tonight.

However, while Zlaticanin's best wins have both come on home territory in Montenegro, he will face a very different atmosphere fighting the Scot at Glasgow's Braehead Arena—that stands as a big advantage to Burns.

As for Burns, this is a relatively quick turnaround from his March defeat to Crawford, a fight in which CompuBox records that Burns landed only 76 of the 552 punches he threw, compared with 213 from 811 for the American.

Before that, Burns came away with a generous draw in September last year versus Raymundo Beltran, a fight in which the Scot suffered a broken jaw in Round 2 before bravely going the distance.

The Crawford performance was a third straight poor display by Burns, having previously been behind on the cards to the virtually unranked Jose Gonzalez prior to the Puerto Rican retiring after nine rounds.

Burns has made one significant change since the Crawford bout by switching trainer from Billy Nelson to Tony Sims, and therefore he has been training down in Essex away from his family.

Sims was already in Burns' corner alongside Nelson on the night of the the Crawford fight so it is hard to believe he is going to be a revolutionary influence.

The man himself backed up that sentiment, telling the Daily Telegraph, "I haven't changed anything in his boxing style, he is 31 now, he's late in his career and I am just trying to add tiny things to his style that I hope will be noticeable in this fight."

The only unquestionable positive of working with Sims is the high-quality sparring available in a gym that houses Kevin Mitchell, with other good names including Olympic champion Luke Campbell also in the mix during preparations.

For all the bluster about putting Burns back in line for world titles, BBC Scotland's Richard Wilson summed up his true situation well, writing that, "A series of opponents may yet lie in wait for Ricky Burns but, in reality, he is fighting against decline."

A certain tentativeness last time out against Crawford (throwing over 30 percent fewer punches than his opponent) was blamed in some quarters on the hangover effects of the broken jaw but had been apparent as early as the Gonzalez fight, thus pre-dating the injury.

In truth, it is hard to pinpoint just why Burns' career has gone off the rails since his impressive wins in 2011 and 2012 against Michael Katsidis and Kevin Mitchell.

His best performances worked off a sharp jab, followed by a relatively high output of punches, and coupled with his being hard to hurt, and harder to discourage.

In his last three fights, Burns has just looked rather lacklustre. At only 31, age should not be working against him but perhaps on his best nights he plain overperformed—and he simply cannot replicate that energy and precision on a long-term basis.

You might have anticipated a longer lay-off after Crawford to regroup and rejuvenate but instead Burns is being thrown straight back in.

Despite the betting odds, this is a fight Burns could lose if he is as flat as he has been of late. Zlaticanin may have been hand-picked by the Scot's team but he is a live body and has every motivation so a half-hearted Burns could see this slip away from him again.

Zlaticanin is a southpaw which can always be tricky but Burns' most conspicuous advantage will be height and reach over his stocky foe—if he can establish his jab that may help him coast to a decision win.

Promoter Hearn, as quoted by The Mirror, has acknowledged that even that might not be enough, saying, "Yes, he's got to win, but he's got to win in style."

"We're looking for a statement. To show the world that Ricky Burns is still here and he wants his title back."

So far the Scottish fight crowd, who have not had a lot to cheer on the world stage in recent years, have been fiercely loyal to Burns, but can even they tolerate four straight mediocre performances?

The fact that Burns attracts good numbers at the gate—he is one of the few marketable fighters in the lightweight division worldwide—greatly enhances his chances of landing another title shot, possibly even in his own backyard once more.

But first he really does need to put on a performance against Zlaticanin, and mark an end to the strange funk that has blighted his recent outings.

If Burns cannot recover his best form, then there is a very real possibility of an upset, one which would really put his career into no-man's land, and which would question the rationale behind such a quick return.

So, at best, this fight could indeed mark an encouraging return to winning ways for Burns—at worst, it could all but end his long run at the top level of the sport.

Two talented fighters will clash in Omaha, Nebraska. Yes, Omaha.

One dynamic and flawed, the other steady and polished. Styles make fights for sure, so when newly crowned WBO lightweight champion and native Cornhusker Terence "Bud" Crawford (23-0, 16 KO) makes his first—and apparently only—defense against "The Cyclone of Guantanamo" Yuriorkis Gamboa (23-0, 16 KO), boxing fans may be treated to an intriguing battle.

The two men have identical records but have taken very different paths to their undefeated marks. On Saturday, someone's "O" has to go.

Not many casual fans will have this bout circled on their calendars, but hardcore fans can appreciate the intrigue in this one.

If you're interested, here's how you can watch.

When: Saturday, June 28 at 10 p.m. ET

Where: CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Nebraska

TV: HBO

Live Stream: BoxNation (Region Restricted)

The Book on Crawford

The "steady and polished" description fits the champion. Though he's just 26 and has had only 23 professional fights, Crawford has a poise and maturity about him in the ring and out. His in-ring style and personal demeanor aren't flashy, but they are effective.

Crawford easily outboxed Ricky Burns to earn the title in March but has already indicated that he may be moving up to 140 pounds after the bout. In a Q&A with Anson Wainwright of The Ring Magazine, Crawford said:

This might be my last fight at 135, then I’m gonna go up to 140 and try to do what I’ve done at 135 at 140. (Junior welterweight) wasn’t a big difference from (lightweight) really, actually I felt stronger at 140 (against Breidis Prescott). I have my handlers pick the opponent and I just fight them. I never call out anyone, I just fight.

Crawford first burst onto the professional scene when he stepped in for injured Khabib Allakhverdiev in March 2013 to face Prescott. Though less experienced, Crawford handled himself well and defeated Prescott by unanimous decision.

It was an HBO broadcast, and Crawford got the network's attention with the solid performance. He has won three times since then, including capturing a world title. Now he's eyeing a move to 140 pounds, where bigger fights await him. 

He has big plans ahead, but there's a storm on the horizon.

The Book on Gamboa

Once thought to be one of boxing's future superstars, Gamboa's career has hit a snag. Oddly enough, the lull isn't due to a loss, though the "flawed" defensive approach has brought Gamboa many anxious moments.

Promotional conflicts have led to extended layoffs, and thus Gamboa has only fought twice in the last two years.

Jake Donovan of Boxing Scene is just one in the boxing community who has soured on Gamboa over the last couple of years. Per The Ring Magazine, Donovan says: "I had high hopes for Yuriorkis Gamboa when he first entered the pro ranks and embarked on an ambitious schedule. I don't see that same version still existing as he's moved up in weight."

In an interview with Santos A. Perez of the Miami Herald, Gamboa explains that his inactivity shouldn't lead people to believe that he may not be in fighting shape. He said: "The purpose is not only to remain active with as many fights as possible. A big part of your career is training and remaining fit. I have never been inactive when it involves training."

Gamboa is now promoted by rapper 50 Cent and has seemingly found an inroad to fight more frequently. He'll be turning 33 in December, so Gamboa can no longer be looked at as an up-and-coming talent. He needs a major victory, and that's exactly what a win over Crawford would represent.

Prediction

Tactically, this fight is interesting on a few different levels. Crawford owns a 2.5-inch height and five-inch reach advantage over Gamboa. Because Crawford has a solid jab, this length will be a major factor in the fight.

Two ways to counter a good jab are with speed and timing. Gamboa has plenty of both. The compactly built Cuban is one of the most explosive punchers in the smaller weight classes. His Achilles' heel is his lackluster defense.

He keeps his hands very low, and against a technically sound fighter with long reach and good power like Crawford, that could spell trouble. Gamboa has been down or dazed multiple times in his career, but he has quick recovery skills and great instincts.

Those qualities have allowed him to survive and in some cases come back to finish an opponent. 

Crawford's chin has never really been tested. This is partly because his defense is just about as solid as his offense. Will Gamboa's quickness allow him to test the champion's beard?

I say no.

Crawford is too sharp to be befuddled by speed alone. Unless Gamboa introduces a whole new defensive strategy, he'll leave himself open for some big shots. He has heart and may not be stopped, but Gamboa will likely hit the canvas twice or more on his way to a lopsided loss due to the knockdowns.

The champion will retain his belt with an impressive unanimous-decision victory.

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@BMaziqueFPBR

Is looking ahead dangerous, or a product of the drive necessary to become a world champion again? Former two-time world champion "The Rickster" Ricky Burns (36-3-1, 11 KO) will be hoping for the latter Saturday when he faces veteran southpaw Dejan Zlaticanin (18-0, 13 KO) from Montenegro.

Per promoter Eddie Hearn, who writes a column in the Daily Mail, Burns has his sights set on WBC lightweight champion Omar Figueroa. Burns lost his WBO title to Terence Crawford in his last bout and is now looking for the quickest route back to a world title.

Zlaticanin doesn't have a wealth of experience, and he's faced almost no one of note in his career, but he does have an undefeated record and a high KO rate. The battle with Burns should tell us how good Zlaticanin really is.

Just below is all of information needed to watch this bout.

When: Friday, June 27 at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland

TV: Sky Sports 3

The Book on Burns

The Rickster didn't just lose his last bout. The 31-year-old from Scotland has looked less than stellar in his last three outings. In May 2013, Burns was down on all three scorecards against Jose A. Gonzalez. 

The hard-punching Puerto Rican injured his wrist and did not answer the bell for the 10th round. Burns had dodged a serious bullet. In his next fight, he was given a gift. Raymundo Beltran broke Burns' jaw and seemed to do more than enough to win, but the bout was ruled a draw.

Against Crawford, Burns' luck ran out. The Omaha, Nebraska, native easily outboxed him to win a unanimous decision. 

Burns could very well be on a three-fight losing streak, and in the minds of his fanbase, his promoter and himself, he might be. This explains why Hearn said this in his blog: "Ricky Burns is fighting for his career and his livelihood... defeat now would be a nightmare."

Even facing such seemingly dire circumstances, Burns' camp has him on the cusp of a battle with Figueroa. That proves just how important this fight with Zlaticanin is.

Burns sounds confident when he speaks about the prospects of facing Figueroa. 

"I believe I have another world title in me." Burns said, per Sky Sports. "Omar is a good fighter, another southpaw, but I've seen clips of him and his last defense was a close fight and some people thought he lost it. It would be a fight that I would be confident going into and the WBC belt is the one that everyone wants to get their hands on."

Before Burns can chase another world title, he must take care of Zlaticanin.

The Book on Zlaticanin

Zlaticanin's height isn't listed on BoxRec, but from watching him in the ring, he looks short and squatty. That said, he is an efficient, southpaw slugger with a clubbing left hook.

It's easy to see why he has 13 KOs in just 18 fights. He has the type of power that should still be a factor against an increased level of competition.

By constantly coming forward, Zlaticanin applies consistent pressure on his opponents. His head movement was hit and miss in the fights I watched, but he changed levels nicely with decent explosion when he was in range.

There's no doubt a Zlaticanin win would be surprising, but he's no one Burns should be taking lightly, as Burns' new trainer Tony Sims told Ewing Grahame of the Daily Record.

"Nobody over here has heard of him but this guy is a decent operator," Sims said. "He’s stopped a lot of opponents and the WBC rate him highly. This will be a hard fight. So I don’t want Ricky to go in there and try to knock him out. I want Ricky to outbox him and I’m looking forward to seeing him show his skills."

Will The Rickster heed his trainer's advice?

Prediction

This bout has "trap fight" written all over it for Burns.

He's shown eroding skills over the last three fights, and because of that, he'll likely want to impress. He's facing a fundamentally sound, hard-punching southpaw with nothing to lose. Burns doesn't have the power to slug, but may be susceptible to being dragged into a war because of Zlaticanin's pressure.

To top it all off, Burns may be looking passed the Montenegrin.

If Burns sticks to the game plan, he should be fine. However, if he finds himself in a brawl, he could easily be outgunned and stopped.

Even with so many reasons to pick the upset, I don't have the heart to make it official. Instead, let's go with a hard-fought split-decision victory for Burns in his native of Scotland.

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@BMaziqueFPBR

Kevin Mitchell will wait to find out if he will get a lightweight world title shot after he defeated Ghislain Maduma in a thrilling IBF eliminator on Saturday.

After struggling in the opening stages, Mitchell finished strongly at Wembley Stadium, eventually knocking down Maduma for the second time in the 11th round for the TKO finish. The Canadian fighter was perhaps ahead on the judges' scorecards at the time.

The victory would usually guarantee Mitchell a title shot against current IBF champion Miguel Vazquez. However, the East Londoner failed to make weight on Saturday morning, which threw that arrangement into doubt.

Nevertheless, his promoter Eddie Hearn is confident the fight will be made.

"He missed the weight this morning," Hearn confirmed to Sky Sports. "We’ll speak to the IBF...but I think we can make the fight with Vazquez anyway.

"He [Mitchell] kept his career alive tonight."

The 29-year-old looked subdued in the early rounds and seemed to be troubled by Maduma's movement and speed, but he insisted that was all part of his game plan after he secured the crucial victory.

"We knew he was going to be a fast starter and get the better of me in the early rounds," he said. "But I’m a little bit more experienced, I kept with him and then put the pressure on him.

"There was only a matter of time before I got hold of him. I could have gone 15 or 20 rounds to be honest."

The third fight of the night at Wembley, it was a far more absorbing contest than the two before it. Mitchell had the overwhelming home support, but it was Maduma who made the early running, using the small ring to his advantage as he landed a number of good shots on his more experienced opponent.

Mitchell seemed to be caught by surprise, hardly making an impression in the first five rounds as Maduma looked impressive. But as the fight entered its second half, the momentum switched, with Mitchell suddenly taking the initiative. He evaded Maduma's tired flurries with relative ease and picked him off with precise counterpunching.

That pattern continued into the 10th round, bringing Mitchell back on terms on the judges' scorecards. Yet suddenly, from nowhere, Maduma found a second wind—stunning Mitchell with one particularly flush shot as the Englishman was forced on the defensive once again.

That exertion perhaps cost more than it gained, however, as the 11th round would prove decisive. Mitchell, still with plenty in the tank, whaled down on his opponent, with Maduma surviving an eight count after using the ropes to hold him up.

But the Kinshasa-born fighter clearly seemed to be struggling to keep his legs under him. Mitchell unloaded a vicious body shot that finally and emphatically ended the bout.

"He was all over the place for the whole round," Mitchell said. "It was only going to get more vicious."

It remains to be seen whether the performance will be enough to deliver him a world title fight, but he believes he is ready.

"I’m coming on bundles," he added.

All quotes taken from Sky Box Office's live broadcast.

Gary Buckland (28-3, 9 KO) and Gavin Rees (37-4-1, 18 KO) will meet again on Saturday night at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales.

Their first bout was an epic, back-and-forth battle in February. Buckland won a split decision, but because of how close and exciting the first tilt was, a rematch was definitely in order.

This one takes on even more meaning considering Rees told Sky Sports he was retiring after the fight—win or lose.

As part of a top-notch card featuring a handful of England's best boxers, Buckland-Rees II might give us just as good of a fight as we got the first time.

Fans will also get to see Lee Selby tangle with Romulu Koasicha and Nathan Cleverly's long-awaited return to the ring. He will take on Sean Corbin.

Here's how you can watch the action:

When: Saturday, May 17 at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales

TV: Sky Sports

Live Stream: AWE

The Book on Rees

At 34 years old, Rees is ready to hang up the gloves, but not before he goes all-in for one more bout. He told Sky Sports, "I will leave everything I have in the ring on May 17 and I am proud of everything I have achieved."

He should be proud. He has overcome personal struggles with alcohol, and he's a former world champion. That said, counting the first loss to Buckland, The Rock has dropped three straight bouts.

Without a question, he doesn't want to end his career on a four-fight losing streak. The pressure is on him to win and to send himself off with a victory.

The Book on Buckland

After Buckland and Rees went at it hard for 12 rounds, not everyone believed Buckland deserved to win. Sky Sports wrote, "The action suggested to some that Rees may have just done enough, but Buckland finished strongly as well and when the scores came through it was he who had his hand raised."

For Buckland, eliminating the doubt has to be at the forefront of his mind. He's only 27 years old. He still has a bit of fighting left in front of him. The first win over Rees was a big one.

It came just after Buckland had been viciously stopped by Stephen Smith in Aug. 2013.

If Buckland wants to make himself a potential opponent for the top lightweights in the world, he needs to beat Rees again. This time, he'd like to leave no doubt.

Prediction

It seems impossible that these two men could fight and it not be close. They were so evenly matched in the first meeting, and both are too far along in their careers to introduce new tricks.

Expect another slugfest.

At 5'7", Buckland holds a three-inch height advantage over Rees. He used that to his advantage in the latter part of the first fight. In the rematch, Rees will do his best to close the distance, and Buckland may lose some of the exchanges as he goes hunting for power shots.

By a razor-thin margin, Rees will win the decision. That will only prompt discussion for a rubber match. Depending on the money, it may be hard for Rees to resist.

This could be Britain's version of the Arturo Gatti-Micky Ward rivalry—if talk of a third fight has any legs. That's something all boxing fans would applaud.

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@BMaziqueFPBR

Whenever WBC lightweight champion Omar "Panterita" Figueroa (22-0-1, 17 KO) fights, there's sure to be a lot of punches thrown.

On Saturday night at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, the all-action fighter from Weslaco, Texas will defend his title against the rugged "Corpus Christi Kid" Jerry Belmontes (19-3, 5 KO).

Aside from the title on the line, there is a little more to this bout. Chris Thurman of 8 Count News writes:

There is more to be gained from this fight than the WBC belt. Also on the line is bragging rights for south Texas as both fighters hail from the Lone Star State and have a history dating back to their amateur days.

The fight is part of a triple-header on Showtime that will also feature interim WBA welterweight champion Keith "One Time" Thurman defending against Julio Diaz.

Sandwiched between that bout and the Figueroa-Belmontes clash is the return of Lucas "The Machine" Matthysse.

Following a loss to Danny "Swift" Garcia in September, Matthysse looks to get back on track.

Here's how you can watch the action.

Where: StubHub Center in Carson, California

When: Saturday, April 26 at 9 p.m. ET

TV: Showtime

Live Stream: Livesport.TV (Region Restricted)

The Book on Figueroa

Figueroa is a marked man. That comes with the territory for most any world champion. But because Panterita has built a reputation as a crowd-pleasing draw, he's on the tip of the tongues of many hungry lightweights.

Recently dethroned 135-pound former champ Ricky Burns has his sights set on Figueroa, per Martin Domin of the Daily Mail.

Figueroa was scheduled to face Ricardo Alvarez in March, but an injured hand forced him out of the fight.

Obviously, Figueroa has to handle Belmontes first. 

The champion seems to know only one way to fight. Six of his last eight fights have ended inside two rounds.

Belmontes might be a tougher nut to crack, though. He's never been stopped in his professional career, and he's an inch and a half taller.

Can Figueroa pick up where he left off before injuring his hand?

The Book on Belmontes

The Corpus Christi Kid isn't coming off like a fighter who will take a loss easily.

In fact, he's been talking a bit of trash about pre-teen meetings in the ring between he and Figueroa.

Apparently the bouts happened when Belmontes was "11 [or] 12 years old." He told Lem Satterfield of The Ring Magazine:

I guess that he doesn't remember those two but I've got the book that shows it and it says that I beat him five times. I mean, I beat the crap out of him. The last time, I made him cry. I stopped him in the third round and I made him cry.

Figueroa is 24 and Belmontes is 25 now, so we'll see how much validity those wins have.

As a professional, Belmontes has established himself as a good boxer with a solid beard. Perhaps the drama in this bout will be centered around whether Figueroa can stop his adolescent rival.

Prediction

It worries me whenever a fighter reaches back to a childhood bout with a future opponent as a confidence booster.

Devon Alexander made a similar reference before Shawn Porter took his IBF title in December 2013.

Even aside from that, Belmontes' lack of power is the biggest issue.

Against a fighter like Figueroa, an opponent has to make him respect him by firing offense that gets his attention or by being elusive enough to slip and counter.

Belmontes isn't sharp enough in either area.

It'll be only a matter of time before Figueroa catches him and ends his night.

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@BMaziqueFPBR

After holding a world title since 2010, it may take Ricky Burns some time to adjust to his new status as a former champion after he lost the WBO lightweight crown to Terence Crawford.

Although Crawford was a formidable opponent, Burns looked lacklustre for the third fight in a row, and you have to wonder where he goes from here.

Burns was bullish in the immediate aftermath, talking up a rematch with Crawford and a desire to get straight back in the gym to continue his career.

Most ridiculously, the Scot told the Daily Record, “I’m only 31 in April. I’ve got another 10 years left in me.”

Given how much worse Burns looked against Crawford, Raymundo Beltran and Jose Gonzalez in comparison to earlier fights against Kevin Mitchell and Michael Katsidis, it would be more sensible to be talking about retirement than 10 more years.

That's not to say Burns should retire—something that has precisely zero percent chance of happening. Burns may be on the slide, but he has not taken any serious beatings and, whilst he has made decent money, he hasn't made so much that there would be no point continuing his career.

The best argument for him to stop would be to preserve his legacy and reputation. If he drops from world level to European level, or even down to British level, his brief sortie at the top may begin to look like an aberration.

Fellow Scot and former champion Alex Arthur has weighed in with some advice for Burns, as reported by the BBC:

He has to have a lengthy break away, because I think part of the reason he was flat and lacklustre on Saturday was because he spends too much time in the gym, boxing and training.

Whether or not Arthur's analysis is correct, the basic message is sound. Still 30, Burns could afford to take six months to a year off without damaging his long-term prospects.

There's no doubt that Burns just hasn't looked his best recently, and you have to think he needs to do something different to recapture his top form. Taking time out to let his body rest and his mind relax would rule out fatigue as a possible cause for his dip.

Frank Warren said something interesting about Burns in his column that rang true: "He almost appeared relieved to forfeit the title." The exact psychology behind that is hard to unravel, but perhaps Burns has been on a steep treadmill from which he can now take a step back.

Although boxers are often too quick to change trainers seconds after defeats, given that Burns has been subpar for three fights, it is something he must consider.

Whatever the problems have been, there is little evidence that trainer Billy Nelson has been able to put his finger on them, let alone devise the solutions.

The biggest question mark over Burns is psychological. Even before breaking his jaw against Beltran, he was looking tentative and uneasy against Gonzalez. Quite what underpins this remains a mystery, but it is one that it would do well for Burns to solve.

There has been little talk of Burns potentially moving up to light-welterweight, just five pounds heavier than where he has been fighting. At 5'10", he certainly has the frame for it, and when he moved from super-featherweight to lightweight, he then looked significantly stronger and sturdier.

However, the light-welterweight division, topped by Danny Garcia, Ruslan Provodnikov and Lucas Matthysse, is much tougher than lightweight—if Burns' ambition is to reclaim a world title, he is better to stay where he is.

Talk of a rematch with Crawford is off the mark because it is hard to see how Burns could possibly overturn the deficit, especially without home advantage.

Because back-to-back losses are so damaging to a boxer's standing, even another bout with Beltran would likely be too ambitious as a comeback fight.

Burns should therefore look to the domestic scene for an opponent. Anthony Crolla had been trying to position himself for a shot at Burns' title, and the winner of Crolla versus John Murray would be a good test.

Another option would be Gavin Rees, who is past his best at 33 but still game and well conditioned. Right now, Burns needs to beat the likes of a Crolla or a Rees, and beat them well, to prove he's still a league above British level.

Beyond that, Burns would be better to target a belt-holder not named Terence Crawford. Talk is that promoter Eddie Hearn might coax IBF champion Miguel Vazquez over to fight London's Kevin Mitchell.

If Mitchell sprung an upset, then a rematch with Burns would be huge; if Vazquez triumphed, then it might be possible to bring him to Scotland to give Burns home advantage.

In general, the noises coming from Burns, Nelson and Hearn are not too encouraging. They seem reluctant to acknowledge that Burns has lost a step. If they therefore put Burns back in too quickly and against too strong an opponent, they may do serious damage to his long-term prospects.

But perhaps once more time has past, Team Burns will reappraise the situation and devise a more pragmatic plan. Arthur's advice to take a break is well judged.

It is hard to believe that a fighter like Burns who has always stayed in shape and never been badly beaten up should be finished aged 30. However, unless he is carefully handled over the next 18 months, there is a danger that his boxing story could come to a premature conclusion.