Burns Becomes 3 Weight World Champ/Nurse Defeats Limond

Ricky Burns 39-5-1-13KO’s was looking to make boxing history by becoming a three-weight world champion as he faced Michele Di Rocco 40-2-1-18KO’s for the vacant WBA super lightweight title. Which was vacated by Adrien Broner.

Round one the European champion Di Rocco came out throwing a lot of power punches but Burns kept a cool head and used his jab effectively. To everyone’s surprise Burns started to land the jab with ease and at the end of the first round Burns landed a stiff jab which rocked Di Rocco.

In round three Di Rocco came out the same way he started the previous rounds but he was being outboxed by the Scotts man. At the end of round three Burns found a break through and floored Di Rocco with a straight right hand. Di Rocco managed to get back to his feet and he was lucky that he was floored at the end of the round.

Di Rocco tried to turn the fight around but it was obvious that burns was a class above Di Rocco and the fight came to an end at 1:57 of round eight. Now Ricky Burns join’s the elite by being the first Scottish fighter to become a first three weight world champion.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the fight an emotional Burns said: "When the fight was stopped I could feel myself welling up.

"My team knew what this meant to me. After everything that’s happened, Eddie Hearn showed faith in me and delivered this big fight.

"Everything we worked on in the gym was working. [Trainer Tony Sims] couldn’t believe how easy it was. Thanks to all my team and everyone for coming down here. I just can’t believe it, honestly.

"In the gym we’re always having a laugh that I’m the only veteran. I feel like I’ve been fighting forever. I was 12 when I started, thanks to everyone who helped me through the years to get here. I don’t know what to say.”

Also on the bill the current British Super Lightweight champion Tyrone Nurse defended his belt against the old Scottish veteran Willie Limond in front of a packed Scottish crowd.

Limond started the first couple of rounds really strong and he was edged on by the rowdy local crowd. But from round 4 onwards Nurse started to dominate the 37-year-old veteran with his slick boxing skills and vicious body shots.

Limond tried his best to turn back the clocks but it was a one-sided beating in the end. In round nine Tyrone Nurse landed another vicious left hook to the body and the Scottish fighter seemed hurt from the shot. The referee victor Loughlin decided to step in and stop the bout at 1:54 of round nine.

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May 28, 2016