SKY Sports 1, 9PM, Burns vs Martinez and Simpson vs Smith

Big Ears

We're in store for two cracking fights tonight, WBO Super-featherweight champion Roman Martinez defends his title at the Kelvin Hall in Scotland against Commonwealth champion Ricky Burns. Also we have experienced and battle hardened Commonwealth Featherweight champion Jon Simpson defend his title at home(for once) against rising Scouse star Stephen Smith.

Martinez brought himself to the attention of boxing fans this side of the Atlantic when he destroyed Nicky Cook 18 months ago to take the title. He's defended his title in 2 good scraps since and with his aggressive style and power will be sure to force another fantastic fight whether Ricky Burns would want it or not tonight.
Burns is a very skilful fighter and at times has shown real class and has some good wins over Graham Earl, and in his Commonwealth title fights vs Akaba, Amidu and two other fighters very familiar to Irish fight fans, Michael Gomez and Kevin O'Hara. But he's failed in his two biggest fights to date, when he stepped up to fight Alex Arthur for the British, European and Commonwealth titles early in his career and a year later when he was well beaten by Carl Johanneson for the British.

Burns had periods in those fights where he was able to outbox Arthur and Gomez, but worringly power seemed to be the changing factor in both fights.
He was stopped in neither, but Arthur and Johanneson managed to use their power to control Burns and keep him under wraps, particularly by going to the body. Both Arthur and Johanneson can really punch but so can Martinez and Burns will have to deal with that sort of power better than he was in the past if he is to prevail. Martinez isn't a poor boxer by any means but Burns probably does have the skill to outbox him, but it's hard to imagine he won't be dragged into exchanges and that is where the advantage surely lies with Martinez.


John Simpson has improved hugely in recent years, in tough fights from early in his career and on the wrong end of a decision or two, not to mention usually fighting away from home, Simpson has had it very tough progressing through the ranks. Rarely a fighter of his quality would have 6 defeats by his age in British boxing circles, but that is a measure of how difficult things have been for him breaking through rather than his own lack of quality. He's improved in leaps and bounds over the last few years and is a European level operator just looking for the chance to finally prove that point against a European champion. To do it though he'll have to beat Stephen Smith tonight and then beat Martin Lindsay if he's to gain the European mandatory position.

Stephen Smith is one of the biggest rising stars in British boxing, brother of British Super-Middleweight champion Paul it was regarded as a massive shock when he failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. He decided to turn pro and has looked very very good since then. Simpson however is on another level to anything he has ever faced and most of what Smith hasn't experienced in pro boxing yet he will experience tonight. A 12 round fight with John Simpson isn't an easy fight for any man. The question is, has this fight come too soon for Smith ?, or is his talent level really that high that he can beat a fighter as good as Simpson while holding such little experience himself. Tonight we'll find out.

Predictions: Martinez by mid round stoppage and Smith on points but I could be completely wrong on both.
Should be a great nights boxing and we could get two real wars here.
Enjoy !

unknown13

Big Ears wrote: »

Predictions: Martinez by mid round stoppage and Smith on points but I could be completely wrong on both.
Should be a great nights boxing and we could get two real wars here.
Enjoy !

Highly doubt that about the Burns fight. Martinez will be way too much for him and IMO Burns shouldn't be the mandatory for the title because he is no where near World level.

Simpson / Smith fight; I have seen Simpson a few times, he is a very good fighter and will give anyone trouble. I have heard Smith is a very good fighter and prospect. This is the fight I am looking forward to the most because it is a 50-50 fight.

joepenguin

Good man. Just caught it in time.Gonna plus it though.

unknown13

Atmosphere is awesome.

unknown13

Smith wins by SD. Very close fight.

Big Ears

Stephen ormond result:

he beat Johnny Greaves on points over 4 rounds

Feargal as Luimneach

Any links?

Feargal as Luimneach

http://www.atdhe.net/5282/watch-rocky-martinez-vs-ricky-burns

Dirk Gently

Burns vs Martinez is a cracker of a fight so far.

Feargal as Luimneach

clown bag wrote: »

Burns vs Martinez is a cracker of a fight so far.

x2 This is some feckin war!

Feargal as Luimneach

What an uppercut by Burns at end of round:D

Dirk Gently

can't believe these two are still standing. A lot of punishment taken by both.

Feargal as Luimneach

Wow!!!! There's going to be a KO in the last round. Martinez has to knock him out!

unknown13

Great night of fights. Two 12 round wars

Big Ears

unknown13 wrote: »

Highly doubt that about the Burns fight. Martinez will be way too much for him and IMO Burns shouldn't be the mandatory for the title because he is no where near World level.

While Burns probably didn't deserve his mandatory position he did more than Lockett or Jennings did to get their shots and with Warren's connection with the WBO it was inevitable Burns would get his chance.

Burns proved himself tonight, he's always showed the skill but tonight he showed he can tough it out when he has to. This isn't the strongest weight division in boxing so Burns may be able to keep that title for some time, there'll be no easy fights for him though.

My only disappointment from tonight is my internet connection kept going and my laptop kept crashing so I saw only about 4 rounds action. I'll have to watch it back next week.

unknown13

Big Ears wrote: »

While Burns probably didn't deserve his mandatory position he did more than Lockett or Jennings did to get their shots and with Warren's connection with the WBO it was inevitable Burns would get his chance.

Burns proved himself tonight, he's always showed the skill but tonight he showed he can tough it out when he has to. This isn't the strongest weight division in boxing so Burns may be able to keep that title for some time, there'll be no easy fights for him though.

My only disappointment from tonight is my internet connection kept going and my laptop kept crashing so I saw only about 4 rounds action. I'll have to watch it back next week.

I can't take anything away from Burns now. He shocked the World, boxed the right fight and landed better shots. He showed lots of heart and grit in the fight aswell.

lubo_moravcik

Fantastic stuff from Ricky Burns there, well in son.
Cheers for the Stephen Ormond result up there too

yabadabado

great stuff from Burns .real battling performance .was a very enjoyable fight.What price was Burns with the bookies,heard 1 of the sky panel mention he was a big price.

unknown13

yabadabado wrote: »

great stuff from Burns .real battling performance .was a very enjoyable fight.What price was Burns with the bookies,heard 1 of the sky panel mention he was a big price.

3/1

yabadabado

unknown13 wrote: »

3/1

cheers .I thought he would have been a bigger price considering the way the panel were talking.

unknown13

yabadabado wrote: »

cheers .I thought he would have been a bigger price considering the way the panel were talking.

Biggest underdog that won in recent memory was Bredis Prescott against Amir Khan. Prescott was 8/1.

megadodge

Big congrats to Burns.

I didn't expect it myself, even though I didn't rate Martinez too highly. I thought he'd eventually get worn down and be stopped late while quite close on points.
However, he displayed a lovely array of punches (right uppercut was excellent all through) and kept his poise and was not alone able to outbox Martinez, but was probably stronger physically inside than him also.

Glad to see such a nice guy win.