Gervonta "Tank" Davis has made a name for himself thanks to his prodigious power.
The undefeated 26-year-old has stopped all but one of his 24 opponents, and many of those knockouts have been spectacular. In his next bout, he's out to prove his power will carry to a higher weight class. On Saturday night, Davis will look to win a title in a third division as he takes on WBA (regular) super lightweight champion Mario Barrios at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Davis is jumping up two weight classes to take on Barrios (26-0, 17 KOs). His most recent bout was in October against Leo Santa Cruz, fighting for the WBA super featherweight title. Santa Cruz had some success, but Davis abruptly ended the fight in the sixth round with a devastating uppercut. Here's a look, per Showtime Boxing:
Barrios, 26, isn't as well-known as Davis, but he's no pushover. Ring Magazine ranks him as the No. 7 fighter in the super lightweight division. He's taller and has a longer reach than Davis and will be in his comfort zone fighting at 140 pounds. If he's sharp Saturday night, he could prove to be Davis' toughest test as a professional.
Davis vs. Barrios Fight Info
When: Saturday, June 26 at 8 p.m. ET (main event approx. 12 a.m. ET)
Where: State Farm Arena in Atlanta
Live Stream: Showtime PPV ($74.99)
Odds (via DraftKings): Davis -560, Barrios +350
Davis' decision to jump up to super lightweight has surprised some considering there are a number of great fighters one division below at lightweight, where Davis holds the WBA secondary world title. Teofimo Lopez, the IBF, WBO and WBA (super) world champion at 135 pounds, has even called out Davis for "avoiding" him, per DAZN.com's Alexander Netherton.
With a tough task ahead of him, Tank has mostly ignored the chatter. He says Saturday night is about proving he can steamroll opponents at 140 pounds just as easily as he does it at 130.
"My last fight people complained that Leo Santa Cruz was too small, so I'm basically going out there and showing that a size difference doesn't matter," Davis said, per Bad Left Hook's Scott Christ. "I'm going to beat whoever they put in front of me. I'm trying to chase greatness."
The knockout blows have made Davis a popular fighter, but he's more than just an explosive puncher. He has excellent hand speed and great footwork. The technique on his power shots is fantastic, as evidenced by his destruction of Santa Cruz. Despite having some trouble with Santa Cruz's work rate and tenacity, Davis was ahead on all three judges' scorecards at the time of the knockout, per BoxRec.
Discipline will be key for Barrios if he wants to upset Davis. He will have a distinct reach advantage against the tightly coiled southpaw (71" to 67.5", per BoxRec), which means an effective jab will not only help him set up his own combinations but control distance as well. Barrios is also working with elite trainer Virgil Hunter, who has schooled him in some advanced techniques that could be useful against Davis, per Premier Boxing Champions' Caryn A. Tate:
"In some of his recent fights, Barrios can be seen extending his lead hand after firing a combination. Hunter explained the 'why' of this elite tactic.
"'It's a defensive mechanism. It lets you know the distance the opponent is at. It also gives the opponent a deterrent not to attack, to make him get the sense that he has to go through something. So it's designed to hold up the attack just for a split second to allow Mario to readjust his position.'"
A good offense can be just as important as a solid defense in boxing, and Barrios has shown improvements in this area as well. He's racked up nine stoppages in his past 10 fights, including a sixth-round knockout of his most recent opponent, Ryan Karl. Davis' chin has held up just fine in the lower divisions, but Barrios could be the one to crack it.
Davis does get his own expert tutelage from Floyd Mayweather Jr., a distinct benefit of fighting for Mayweather Promotions. He says the legendary boxer has been working with him in this training camp on making full use of his talents and "letting the knockout come," per Christ.
Patience will likely come in handy against Barrios. Davis is in uncharted territory here, and he doesn't always get one-and-done KOs. Against the aging Yuriorkis Gamboa in 2019, Davis didn't get the TKO until the final round despite scoring knockdowns in the second and eighth rounds.
Look for Barrios to win a few rounds in a close, action-packed fight, but Davis should have what it takes to seize an opportunity for a late stoppage.
Prediction: Davis by late knockout.
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Brandun Lee made his toughest test yet as a pro boxer look easy Wednesday night, knocking out Samuel Teah in the third round of their junior welterweight title fight at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Lee (22-0, 20 KOs) knocked down Teah early in the third round with a chopping right hand after a flurry of punches. He then got the veteran trapped on the ropes, kept up the barrage of punches and finished the night early by rocking Teah's jaw with a textbook right hook.
Showtime Boxing has the highlight:
Compubox's Dan Canobbio felt the knockout was one of the best of the year so far:
Lee extended his knockout streak to 13 fights. The California native now holds the IBO intercontinental junior welterweight title, his first piece of hardware as a professional. The 21-year-old has spent most of his career fighting above 140 pounds, but he's now shown that he can maintain his power in a lower weight class.
Teah (17-4-1, 7 KOs), a tough veteran boxer out of Philadelphia, offered the young prospect some solid resistance in the first couple of rounds, standing his ground and trading in the center of the ring. Lee stayed calm and didn't get into any vulnerable positions. He used his jab to keep Teah from coming forward and followed up with accurate power shots.
Even when Teah landed some good body shots, Lee didn't waver. He maintained his focus and control, and it paid off in the third round when his heavy hands proved too much for the 33-year-old Teah to handle.
Boxing journalist Dan Rafael noted Lee was the first person ever to send Teah to the canvas:
After yet another quick night for Lee—he hasn't gone past four rounds in his professional career and has only gone to the judges twice—ESPN's Steve Kim pointed out there's still a big question for the rising star:
Lee will get a chance to show just how far he can take his obvious talents. Teah was his most accomplished opponent by far. The competition will only get stiffer from here on out now that he has a title. If Lee can sharpen his technique and keep his composure against tougher fighters, he has a bright future ahead of him.
Rising star Brandun Lee (21-0, 19 KOs) will get his first shot at a belt on Wednesday night when he takes on Samuel Teah (17-3-1, 7 KOs) for the vacant IBO intercontinental junior welterweight title.
The two men are headlining the ShoBox: The New Generation card at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. In addition to getting some hardware, Lee will also be looking to preserve his undefeated record and a particularly vicious knockout streak, 12 fights and counting.
Teah is a journeyman fighter who's won two in a row since losing to Tre'Sean Wiggins in a bid for the Pennsylvania state title at super lightweight in February 2019.
The 33-year-old doesn't have a great record when it comes to power, so he's going to need to call upon every bit of his craft if he's going to trip up Lee on his road to stardom.
Lee vs. Teah Fight Info
When: Wednesday, March 10 at 9 p.m. ET (main card)
Where: Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut
TV: Showtime
Live stream: SHO.com
Lee kept busy in 2020, winning four fights by stoppage; two of them in the third round and two in the first. The most recent was against Dakota Linger at the Mohegan Sun in December, which he ended with a series of chopping hooks that gave referee Danny Schiavone all the evidence he needed to wave off the fight.
The Mohegan Sun was also the venue for Lee's stunning first-round demolition of Jimmy Williams in October, per IBO Boxing:
The 21-year-old from La Quinta, California is looking to extend his knockout streak Wednesday night against Teah.
"I'm just glad I'm back on TV in the main event and all my fans can watch me live. I'm looking forward to going out there and doing what I do best, which is seek and destroy," he said, per RingTV.com's Anson Wainwright.
Teah represents a step up in competition for Lee. He's a veteran boxer and has yet to hit the canvas in 21 professional bouts. Lee has 10 rounds on Wednesday night to change that fact.
If he can dismantle Teah in a similar fashion to his previous fights, it will help boost his profile immensely. And Lee has no intention of slowing down if he gets the intercontinental title on Wednesday and already has his sights set on the IBO world champion at 140 pounds.
"I want Jeremias Nicolas Ponce," he said, per Hans Themistode of Round By Round Boxing. "I've been eyeing him for a while. I need some sort of title and credibility. It's time to take the next step. Once I get that belt then I can start calling out other guys."
Lee may need some more seasoning before he starts going after the top guys at junior welterweight or thinks about tangling with the young stars lurking a division below.
Right now, though, the obstacle is Teah, and there's little reason to think Lee won't get the job done on the Showtime card. Look for him to get another stoppage win in the early or middle rounds on Wednesday.
Prediction: Lee wins by KO
Former four-division world champion Adrien Broner will end a long absence from the ring Saturday night when he takes on Jovanie Santiago in a junior welterweight match at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.
It's been two years since Broner (33-4-1, 24 KOs) last fought and four years since his last win. He's had legal and financial issues but insists he's a changed man and still has what it takes to win another world title. That journey starts again with Santiago (14-0-1, 10 KOs), an undefeated but unremarkable fighter from Puerto Rico.
Broner's reputation and notoriety is enough to see him headline Saturday night's Showtime card. The night's entertainment also features a heavyweight clash between Otto Wallin and Dominic Breazeale (20-2, 18 KOs) and a junior welterweight scrap between Robert Easter Jr. and Ryan Martin.
Broner vs. Santiago Fight Info
When: Saturday, Feb. 20 at 9 p.m. ET (main card)
Where: Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut
TV: Showtime
Live Stream: SHO.com
Odds: Broner -910 (bet $910 to win $100), Santiago +500 (via DraftKings)
When we last saw Broner fight, back in January 2019, he was busy getting outclassed in just about every way against a then-40-year-old Manny Pacquiao. Broner lost by a wide margin on the cards and subsequently announced his second retirement from boxing.
The loss to Pacquiao came on the heels of a draw against Jessie Vargas and a loss to Mikey Garcia. Even Broner's most recent win was shaky, a split-decision victory over Adrian Granados in February 2017. The shoulder-roll defense and counter rights that made Broner a highly touted star weren't working anymore, and Broner had nothing to show for his prime years as an athlete.
Broner's issues outside the ring have persisted in his time away from the sport. He was jailed for contempt of court in November, and as ESPN.com's Ben Baby wrote, Broner may be feeling financial pressure related to the case:
"Broner owes $855,682.03, which is how much he is required to pay to settle the lawsuit, as of an affidavit filed on Jan. 29. That follows a criminal case in which he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and unlawful restraint after he forcibly kissed a woman at a club in 2018. In a court filing submitted on Jan. 29, Wells Fargo said Broner had no funds available, with a large stamp across blank lines."
Broner told ESPN that this is not the main motivation for returning. Instead he says he has "great talent, and I'm not going to let it go to waste," per Baby. He's still just 31 years old and has dropped a ton of weight to reach the 140-pound limit for Saturday's fight. Plenty of boxers have had great runs in their early 30s, though most were building off much better foundations than Broner has made for himself. The way Broner tells it, though, he's ready to start fresh.
"I've found my love for boxing again. I gave myself some time to miss boxing, and I'm ready to go in there and win some more world titles. My children are what fuel me now," he said, per Bad Left Hook's Scott Christ.
If he's healthy and focused, "The Problem" should have no problem against Santiago. His last two stoppages came at 140 pounds, against Ashley Theophane and Khabib Allakhverdiev, before the decline of the last few years. The junior welterweight ranks also offer a much easier path toward contention than the star-studded welterweight division, as long as Broner can stay disciplined and maintain his weight.
There's an opportunity for him to do more than cash a check on Saturday night. He just needs to offer up a better version of himself than the one we've seen over the last few years.
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No world titles are involved, but there is still plenty on the line for Adrien Broner and Mikey Garcia as they get set to fight on Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
In a super lightweight bout, Broner is looking to prove he can still mix it up at the top level. He's won three straight since a loss to Shawn Porter in 2015, but the quality of his competition has been lacking and he's had plenty of time off between those bouts.
He has incentive to prove himself even before he steps into the ring, as he faces a $500,000 penalty if he does not make the 140-pound weight limit, per Sky Sports' Nick Lustig (Broner has twice lost out on titles at weigh-ins).
For Garcia, he's boxing at super lightweight for only the second time, having last fought at the lightweight level and spending much of his career in the featherweight ranks.
The 29-year-old is putting his unblemished record on the line against a four-division world champion, and he is still only a couple of fights and a couple of years removed from a long two-and-a-half year layoff from the sport. A win on Saturday would be a massive boost for Garcia.
Broner vs. Garcia Fight Info
When: Saturday, July 29 at 9 p.m. ET
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
TV: Showtime, Sky Sports Action (UK)
Live Stream: ShowtimeAnytime.com, SkySports.com (UK)
Tickets: ScoreBig.com
Though Broner has had plenty of success in his career—but not as much as he would like to have people think—he's coming into this fight as quite the underdog. According to OddsShark, as of July 26, he is valued at 333-100 (stake $10 for $43.30 payout), while Garcia is the 2-9 favorite.
Broner hasn't quite been at his best in recent fights. He failed to make the weight against Ashley Theophane in April 2016, which saw him lose out on a chance at the WBA world super lightweight title. He ended up with a ninth-round TKO win.
Against Adrian Granados earlier this year, Broner won a narrow split-decision victory in a bout that saw him show off his precise counterpunching but fail to control the fight against a motivated opponent. Also, he had trouble getting down to 142 pounds for that fight and had the weight limit moved up to 147, per The Ring's Mitch Abramson.
With his difficulties making weight and his seeming inability to stay out of legal trouble, it's easy to see why so many are picking against "The Problem." A poll conducted by The Ring showed about 80 percent of those responding believe Garcia will beat his controversial opponent.
Indeed, Garcia is perhaps the most talented boxer Broner has faced to this point in his career, but according to Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole, the 27-year-old from Cincinnati isn't concerned with that angle:
"I mean, you can say that, but at the end of the day, man, I fought a lot of good fighters then, but I'm just worried about getting my victory, man. I can say the fact, but I ain't trying to get into all that right now. I'm more focused and ready to fight."
Broner will have to be sharp, because a loss to Garcia will give plenty of ammunition to his detractors in spite of the multiple titles he's won in his career.
Garcia has looked excellent in his last two fights following the long contract dispute that kept him out of the ring from January 2014 to July 2016.
He knocked Elio Rojas down four times in his return bout after the layoff and went on to dismantle then-undefeated Dejan Zlaticanin by a third-round knockout in January, earning the WBC world lightweight title in the process. The knockout, on a devastating string of three punches that ended with a right hook, is something to behold for its power and precision.
Garcia will have to hope his power holds up as he moves up in weight to take on Broner while also being wary of his opponent's strength and comfort fighting at and around 140.
As CBS Philly's Joseph Santoliquito noted, the style of the fight could be massively important:
"But there are strong indications this is Garcia's fight to lose. He's far more disciplined in and out of the ring than Broner, who's had issues making weight in the past. He's also smart enough not to be lured into Broner's game, and that's a slugfest. On fight night, Broner could possibly be anywhere between eight to 10 pounds heavier than Garcia. A slower, phone booth fight may favor Broner, while a quick, skilled pace seems more Garcia's game."
It's a huge opportunity for Garcia, who can use a win over Broner to garner greater and more lucrative opportunities and prove the contract dispute did little to disrupt the consistent upward trajectory of his career. A loss, though, means he will have to rebound quickly if he is to make the leaps in the sport so many think he is capable of.
Boxing fans who have watched Terence "Bud" Crawford (30-0, 21 KOs) evolve into one of the sport's best all-around fighters may have the nagging feeling that something is lacking when he takes on Felix Diaz on Saturday at Madison Square Garden, New York.
This isn't to say Diaz (19-1, 9 KOs) is a bad boxer or that the opportunity to fight at one of sports premier venues should be passed up, but Crawford has so thoroughly dominated the competition at the lightweight and junior lightweight ranks over the past few years one has to wonder when he will get the kind of fights that can launch him into the stardom his talent deserves.
The 29-year-old Crawford still has plenty of reasons to stick around in this division, but unless Diaz can make good on his promise and throw a wrench into Bud's career path this weekend, fights like these will simply feel like a prelude to something more.
Crawford vs. Diaz Fight Info
When: Saturday, May 20 at 10:15 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden in New York City
TV: HBO
Live Stream: BoxNation (UK Only)
Tickets: ScoreBig.com
Crawford is defending his WBC and WBO world super lightweight titles against Diaz. It's his second defense after beating the lanky Viktor Postol by unanimous decision in July 2016. The then-undefeated Postol represented the greatest threat to Crawford's rise to the upper echelon of the sport, but he succumbed to the crafty Nebraska native's talents.
Crawford then made rather easy work of John Molina Jr (8th-round TKO), setting up this fight against Diaz, who is moving down in weight to box at 140 pounds.
The 33-year-old Diaz is a heavy 10-1 underdog, per OddsShark.com, but he has some good qualities to him. He's a southpaw with a sterling amateur career that saw him win an Olympic gold medal at junior welterweight. Though his knockout record isn't great, he's used to fighting in the mid-140s, so he may be better able to handle some of Crawford's stinging blows.
The last time Diaz fought below 140 was against Adrian Granados in November 2014, which saw him win by split decision.
"Diaz has a lot of the same attributes when it comes to pressure and style, which could make it a very difficult night for Bud," said Diaz's promoter, Lou DiBella, per the Omaha World-Herald's Tony Boone. “I think this is the toughest challenge that Terence Crawford has ever had.”
Though he is a skilled fighter, Diaz is shorter than Crawford, and his reach three inches shorter (70" to 67") as well, according to BoxRec. Giving up some physical advantages to a fighter as good as Crawford is likely to spell doom.
Crawford can switch stances to throw off Diaz's game plan, use a sharp jab to keep him at bay and throw expertly-time counterpunches. His unwavering calm also makes him very adept at surviving the initial onslaughts of pressure fighters, allowing him to probe for weaknesses while minimizing the damage he takes.
Should Crawford get past Diaz, he has a couple of roads he could go down: one that would raise his profile instantly, and another that would satisfy a personal goal but again do little to move the needle.
Crawford's stated goal is to unify the titles at 140.
"I never kept track of how many people have ever had held all four titles, but it is one of my goals to say that I am undisputed champion," Crawford said, per USA Today's Bob Velin.
That would mean putting together a bout against Julius Indongo (22-0, 11 KOs), a 34-year-old Namibian southpaw who beat Ricky Burns to capture the IBF and IBO world titles. A Crawford-Indongo fight would have the easily salable storyline of a rare full unification bout, but it would be difficult to pull off and Indongo's name likely isn't recognizable to even some casual fans of the sport.
The other path for Crawford is Manny Pacquiao, who needs little introduction and is fighting Jeff Horn on July 2. At 38 years old, Pacquiao is long past his prime, but he's one of the world's most recognizable sports stars and could still prove a mighty challenge for Crawford with his power and tenacity.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told Velin "we will do our best to make that fight" and that he thinks the "public will support it."
Crawford can't afford to look past a gifted boxer like Diaz this weekend, but he has a bright future. Assuming he gets the victory on Saturday, more opportunities should open up for one of the sport's best talents.
It's not often the marquee stateside boxing matchup in a given weekend takes place from deep in the heart of the United States. The spotlight often shines brightest in Las Vegas, maybe somewhere along the Eastern seaboard, or perhaps a big card materializes in Los Angeles.
But when Terence "Bud" Crawford beckons a fighter to his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, then that's exactly where the boxing world orients itself for a moment.
The 29-year-old is set to put his WBO and WBC world super lightweight titles on the line Saturday against the hard-hitting John Molina Jr. in a scheduled 12-round bout.
Crawford, the No. 5 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, according to Ring Magazine, is looking to put in some work following a huge win over the previously undefeated Viktor Postol in July. That victory saw him capture the WBC title and further burnish his reputation as one of the world's best boxers working today.
Molina is coming off an upset win over Ruslan Provodnikov in June, but he is 5-5 in his last 10 fights and will need every bit of his power, bravery and guile if he is to somehow pull off a win against Crawford.
Terence Crawford vs. John Molina Jr. Fight Info
When: Saturday, Dec. 10 at 9:35 p.m. ET
Where: CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska
TV: HBO
Live Stream: BoxNation (UK Only)
| Crawford | Molina | |
|---|---|---|
| 29-0-0, 20 KOs | Record | 29-6, 23 KOS |
| 69% | KO Percentage | 66% |
| 147 | Rounds | 165 |
| 29 | Age | 33 |
| 5'8" | Height | 5'10.5" |
| 70" | Reach | 71" |
| Orthodox | Stance | Orthodox |
Give Molina credit. It's not easy to pick a fight with a guy as talented as Crawford, someone who has just about every tool in his box and a knack for finding just the right one to pry an opponent open and scramble his circuitry.
Crawford isn't the most powerful of boxers, but he has a robust knockout record due to his ability to pick apart opponents.
The Nebraskan often starts matches slowly, probing for weaknesses and letting his opponents display their repertoires so he can find something to use against them. Against Postol, Crawford needed just four rounds to crack the code before dropping the lanky Ukrainian twice in the fifth on the way to a unanimous decision.
Against Thomas Dulorme in April 2015, it was five cagey rounds of moving around the ring and incisive, careful body work before Bud started canning the Puerto Rican. He scored three knockdowns in the sixth on the way to a TKO victory.
Similar fates befell the likes of Yuriorkis Gamboa and Hank Lundy, both of whom possess different strengths and styles than either Postol or Dulorme.
All of this is to say that Crawford has taken on challengers of all stripes and sizes and defeated them, using different techniques and strategies as each situation calls for.
It's clear that Molina will need much more than his raw power to defeat Crawford. If there's a glimmer of hope to be had for the 33-year-old California native, it's in his performance against Provodnikov.
USA Today's Bob Velin noted Molina used a steady jab, not power punches, to pull off the upset win: "Molina, 33, used his height and reach advantage to jab at will all night long, 643 of them in all, and kept the slugging Russian at bay, not allowing Provodnikov to get inside where he's most comfortable at close range."
Molina credited a new trainer in Shadeed Suluki for showing him a path to greater nuance and technical proficiency inside the ring.
"He realized that I could use the jab, which was a bad word at one point in my career," Molina said, per Velin. "And he showed me how to use my feet. And use my God-given attributes, which is my height and reach advantage."
Molina does possess height and reach advantages over Crawford, so he may turn to the jab again here in this fight.
Of course, Crawford has much more in his arsenal than the brutish Provodnikov and is vastly more comfortable fighting on the outside. Unless Molina can find a way to combine a jab with power shots to the body and slow down Crawford, it's tough to see him outpointing the Omaha native.
Crawford's languid starting pace might work against him if Molina can fire off a few really hard punches and then sit back on a long jab. However, the ultra-cool Crawford isn't one to get rattled, and one would think he can work his way around a guy who only recently has discovered a truly effective jab.
Molina already has a major upset this year under his belt, but he's doubtful to make it two. Crawford should win this one handily on points, perhaps setting himself up for a fight with Manny Pacquiao or another luminary in the welterweight division.
The final scores made it look convincing, but Ricky Burns' unanimous points win over Kiryl Relikh was anything but comfortable.
The Scotsman did just about enough to retain his WBA super lightweight title on home soil in Glasgow on Friday, paving the way for him to finally fight the man who previously held the belt, Adrien Broner.
While Raul Caiz Sr. and Terry O'Connor judged the bout 116-112 in favour of the champion, the other official, Jesus Cova, somehow scored it 118-110. Despite Burns' failure to manage a knockdown, the Venezuelan official had the champion winning by a landslide.
That final score does not tally with what happened in the ring.
Relikh justified his position as mandatory challenger with an impressive display in defeat. He had entered the ring as something of an unknown quantity yet made sure Burns wouldn't forget his name in a hurry.
Having produced a fast start and a big finish, the Belarusian didn't deserve to lose by as wide a margin as 118-110. His trainer and manager, Ricky Hatton, said as much to Sky Sports' Andy Scott:
Interviewed Ricky Hatton afterwards. No issues with the result only the cards. "We'd have more luck with Ray Charles scoring."
— Andy Scott (@mr_andyscott) October 7, 2016
Relikh had never previously gone beyond eight rounds, yet he was the one who looked the more likely to force a stoppage during the closing stages. Burns was down on the canvas during Round 12, only for referee Howard Foster to rightly rule the knockdown was caused by a pull rather than a punch.
Burns finished the fight with a perforated eardrum too, per First Class Boxing, yet he was able to hear his name called out when the verdict was announced.
Rickster claimed the vacant strap in May by breaking down Italian Michele Di Rocco, but stoppage victories have been few and far between on a CV that is littered with gruelling battles.
After 361 rounds and at the age of 33, Burns needs to make hay while he's still holding a major title.
That's why a bout with Broner would be perfect.
The Problem—who held the WBA title before losing it on the scales—was expected to be ringside at the SSE Hydro to watch the action. Although the American never made the trip in the end, that doesn't mean he's suddenly going down a different career path.
It is not the first time the duo have been linked. There was speculation of fights happening when they were campaigning at both super feather and lightweight, but nothing ever materialised.
However, this time, it could be different. Promoter Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports (h/t Matt Horan of SkySports.com) that negotiations between the two camps have, so far, gone well:
Scotland has had some great nights with Ricky Burns, but now I think it's time to go on the road. The fans here would love [Las] Vegas.
Adrien Broner is 100 per cent the fight he wants, the fight he's been searching for for many years. The terms are virtually there for that fight.
We're going to push and try to get it in December if we can. We want to make that Broner fight and then look for the unification fights for Ricky Burns. It's time to go to that next level and roll the dice every time.
So it seems singer Paula Abdul and her animated cat friend were right—opposites do attract.
Burns and Broner couldn't be at any further ends of the boxing spectrum, both in terms of personality and profile. While one is a soft-spoken fighter fully dedicated to his career, the other is, well, Broner.
They are also differ greatly in their methods, and that's what would make their fight intriguing to watch.
With the ever-willing Burns, it's no-frills stuff.
At 5′10″, his stiff jab is a major weapon. Yet he's also happy to bully his way inside, often doing so blindly by tucking his chin into his chest and leaning, forehead first, into his rival. The technique has fallen foul of referees in the past, leading to points being deducted.
But without carrying enough power to do too much damage from a distance, he is willing to walk a tightrope with officials to get up close and let combinations go.
His drip-drip method of punishment relies two things: a chin capable of taking punishment and a reliable motor that can get through the rounds. Burns is fortunate to have both.
Even when a two-time world champion, Burns continued to work weekend shifts in a sports shop, as Hearn told Phil Goodlad of BBC Scotland when announcing the fighter had joined his Matchroom stable in 2013.
That disposition to do the hard yards has reaped dividends in the ring. His methods are not pretty, but they are mighty effective.
Broner is technically superior, without a doubt, yet Burns is a seriously tough man to shift—Raymundo Beltran broke his jaw in Round 2 and still only ended up getting a draw in their lightweight contest in 2013, albeit the scoring was, just like the Relikh fight, highly debatable.
The American's problems with making the 140-pound limit for his last fight, against Ashley Theophane in April, also raises a red flag. Is he struggling with the weight, or did he just take his eye off the ball?
However, there are doubts about Burns too. As journalist Niall Doran pointed out on Twitter, it has been a while since the Brit has fired on all cylinders against a respectable opponent:
That win over Mitchell referenced by Doran was over four years ago. Since then, Burns has won just six of his next 10 outings—and his successes against Alexandre Lepelley and Prince Ofotsu last year were nothing more than glorified sparring.
Although fortunate to escape defeat to Beltran, he was outclassed by Terence Crawford before falling short against Dejan Zlaticanin.
He has battled back to make history, becoming Scotland's first three-weight world champion, but Di Rocco was not a particularly tough hurdle to clear. The Italian arrived with a padded record and was badly exposed under pressure.
So can Burns roll back the years and find some of that old magic? Recent history, plus his age and the many miles already on his body clock, would suggest it's unlikely.
However, he won't go down without a fight. Broner may be the classier operator out of the two, but he struggled to cope with the swarming style of Marcos Maidana when suffering his maiden pro loss in 2013.
If he's not physically and mentally ready for the challenge, Burns will make him pay.
We know exactly what we're going to get from the holder of the WBA belt—it's the former champion who has to prove himself again after fighting just once in the last 12 months.
The reputations of both men have suffered major setbacks in recent years, but a December meeting featuring two vastly contrasting characters could well make for a pre-Christmas cracker.
Ricky Burns returns to the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, on Friday, as he makes the first defence of his WBA super lightweight title against Kiryl Relikh.
Burns (40-5-1, 14 KOs) is back at the venue where he created history in May. His stoppage win over Michele Di Rocco saw him become the first Scotsman to win world titles in three different divisions.
Now he takes on mandatory challenger Relikh (21-0, 19 KOs), an unbeaten Belarusian who is promoted by former world champion Ricky Hatton.
Also on the card, Dillian Whyte faces Ian Lewison for the vacant British heavyweight title, while lightweight Scott Cardle defends his Lonsdale strap against Kevin Hooper.
Promoters Matchroom Boxing have announced they will donate all proceeds from tickets sold between midnight Wednesday and midnight Thursday to the family of Mike Towell, the Scottish boxer who died in hospital on September 30 from injuries suffered during a fight.
Hatton had already set up a crowdfunding effort to raise money for the same cause, with the JustGiving page clearing the £40,000 target.
While they will be rivals in the ring during the main event, both teams deserve praise for their efforts.
When: Friday, October 7, 10 p.m. BST (5 p.m. ET)
Where: The SSE Hydro, Glasgow
TV: Sky Sports (UK)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK)
One Direction
After a points defeat to Omar Figueroa Jr. in 2015, Burns had won just once in his last five outings. Having once stood at the top of the mountain, he was now falling down the other side.
The former WBO champion stuck around at lightweight for a while, hoping to get another title shot at 134 pounds. He did pick up the WBO International belt, pushing him closer to his goal.
Then, all of a sudden, an opportunity popped up to go in a different direction.
Burns grabbed it with both hands, demolishing Rocco to scoop up the vacant WBA crown at super lightweight. It was a special night on home turf—and he even looked a little like his old self in the ring.
However, it seems the former champion may want his old belt back.
According to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, Adrien Broner—who lost the strap on the scales after failing to make weight for an April defence against Ashley Theophane—is open to the idea of fighting Burns.
The current holder isn't getting carried away by the prospect of a lucrative Las Vegas showdown against the American, as he told Michael Gannon of the Daily Record: "Never mind all the Broner stuff—I need to deal with Relikh first. I know I'll keep getting asked about it, but I'm not entertaining any talk about it.
"I've never been a boxer who looks beyond the next fight, and that's how I will stay."
Broner is rumoured to be travelling to watch his potential next opponent from ringside, allowing him to also soak up the atmosphere as a partisan Scottish crowd cheers on one of their own.
In truth, Glasgow holds mixed memories for Burns.
He became a world champion there for the first time when beating Roman Martinez in 2010 to take the WBO super featherweight crown, yet he also suffered painful losses against Terence Crawford and Dejan Zlaticanin in the city.
Those results temporarily derailed the 33-year-old, but he appears to be back on track now. His next destination could be the United States, but Burns has to take care of business at home first.
The Unknown Quantity
So what exactly do we know about Relikh?
Well, looking at his professional record, he's become accustomed to winning bouts inside the distance.
He won on points on his debut over four rounds, while Yauheni Kruhlik made it through to the final bell in an eight-rounder in 2012.
Since then, however, Relikh has left a trail of destruction in his wake.
The 26-year-old won the vacant WBA Intercontinental title in 2015 and has successfully defended it twice since, putting him at the front of the queue to take on Burns.
While not too much is known about the challenger, British boxing fans know all about a familiar face working in the visitors' corner.
Hatton's presence undoubtedly adds a little extra to the occasion. Although still based in Minsk, Relikh travels to Manchester, England, prior to his fights to work with The Hitman.
The fighter nicknamed Mad Bee is a 7-2 underdog, per Odds Shark, but that price has much to do with him being an unknown quantity.
Zlaticanin was in a similar situation against Burns in 2014, only to make an immediate impression on the Scot by scoring a knockdown in Round 1. He eventually won by split decision on the scorecards.
Hatton told Coral Barry of Metro.co.uk how the element of surprise could be crucial for his fighter:
We know more of Ricky than [trainer] Tony [Sims] and Ricky know of Kiryl and I think that will work in our favour.
Kiryl can bang but there's more to him than that. He's breezed to this level and there's so much more to come from him.
Kiryl is very aggressive but there's a big skill level behind that punching power and he'll show that on Friday night.
So, is he just a stepping stone to bigger fights, or a road block that could halt Burns' career path? By the end of the fight, we should know a lot more about Relikh.
Prediction
Burns cannot afford another defeat on his record.
With a world title in his possession, he is an attractive option for other fighters to take a look at. Without it, though, he just becomes a tough opponent without any real upside. Why bother taking on someone as durable and dogged as Burns if you don't really need to?
Relikh's 90 per cent KO ratio, per BoxRec, makes him dangerous, but Burns has never been stopped.
Although the favourite may have to cop a few blows in the process, he will find a way to grind down Relikh and force a late stoppage.
