Fight Pick & Preview: Ricky Burns vs. Miguel Vazquez Preview and Prediction
On March 16 in Wembley Stadium, IBF champion Miguel Vazquez and WBO titleholder Ricky Burns meet in a lightweight title unification bout. Both fighters are world champions, but still looking for respect. A win here lends instant credibility to the victor. Burns, on a 20-bout winning streak and fighting much closer to home, is a favorite, but a close and well-contested match is expected.
There are some things they have in common. Their records are similar and both stand 5’10”–tall for the 135-pound class. They are both on winning streaks and are probably better fighters than what they are given credit for. Each man is a cerebral fighter with an abundance of toughness, craft, and ambition.
- Date: March 16, 2013
- Site: Wembley Stadium, London, England
- Weight Class: WBO and IBF Lightweight Titles: 12 Rounds
Ricky Burns, 35-2 (10 KOs), Coatbridge, Scotland
vs.
Miguel Vazquez, 33-3 (13 KOs), Guadalajara, Mexico
Vazquez, IBF champ since August of 2010, has won 7 straight title bouts. He is on a nice little run, but is seemingly taking at least a small step up in class against the better-tested Burns. The Mexican titleholder has been in the ring with Saul Alvarez (twice) and Timothy Bradley in his only 3 career losses, but the guys he has beaten recently are a clear level lower than Burns.
Burns, 29, has beaten the better caliber of fighter. His wins over Roman Martinez, Michael Katsidis, and Kevin Mitchell are probably better wins than anything on the ledger of Vazquez. He reigned as WBO 130-pound champion, before taking that organization’s 135-pound belt. His previous win, a 4th-round stoppage in a grudge match with the 33-1 Mitchell in September, was sensational and suggested Burns is ready to break free from his placement as just another alphabet-belt claimant.
He will have his work cut out for him. Vazquez looks pretty unthreatening. Watch footage of his fights and you will likely not be inspired with awe. Nevertheless, he is an incredibly resourceful, clever, and rugged practitioner. Sometimes, we get caught up in a guy’s individual assets and if nothing jumps out, we tend to write him off. What Vazquez lacks in eye-popping skills and talent, he makes up for it with the simple ability to box. The 26-year old simply knows how to get it done in the boxing ring and win fights.
One has to wonder what the affect of making his first appearance across an ocean will have on Vazquez. Burns, while not a hometown boy, is from Scotland and will at least be in his element and time zone. This is the same venue where Burns beat the worn-down Katsidis in 2011. This fight should be decidedly more difficult. Vazquez has sound technical skills and is very elusive and frustrating to fight.
Burns himself is pretty tricky too. It should be a high-level chess match at times. With only 10 knockouts in 37 fights, the punching power of Burns wouldn’t appear to be that big of a factor, but the numbers don’t really do justice to him. Despite a lower KO percentage, he’s probably more capable of a power surge than Vazquez, whose only knockouts have come against inferior competition. Burns, meanwhile, has managed to stop some decent guys, namely in his last fight against the well-regarded Mitchell.
It’s good to see the top fighters in a division fighting each other. And they didn’t need millions to do it, either. Other “champions” should take note. The winner definitely becomes the most-accomplished lightweight, even though most would tend to list Adrien Broner as the top dog at 135. Still, the winner takes a big step toward widespread credibility.
Burns vs. Vazquez Prediction
In a battle between well-schooled technicians, I give the edge to Vazquez. The wiry Vazquez combines a big 72-inch reach and lively legs to steer out of trouble. When his opponent over-extends himself or is in a disadvantageous position, he is able to connect. Burns might have to become more the aggressor and that’s not a role he’s uncomfortable with. Vazquez will be difficult to hit, but Burns is a slick customer too and it’s hard to picture him being rendered as ineffective as recent Vazquez foes have appeared.
Vazquez is just so much better than he looks and a lot of that comes from an innate ability to make his opponent look bad. With Burns, however, he is facing a fast and clever fighter who can move. While Vazquez won’t be exerting any physical pressure on Burns, he will put the heat on him mentally. Burns will be eager to do his fans proud and that might give Vazquez the “in” that he needs to win rounds with his long-range counterpunching.
I see Vazquez winning about 7-8 rounds in a classy bout that suits fans who really appreciate the finer points of the sport. Who knows what the scorecards might read in a fight like this, but I like Vazquez.
Prediction: Miguel Vazquez wins by split decision.
