Liverpool boxing preview (part 1)

The big boxing bill this weekend is at the Liverpool Echo arena with an excellent card headlined by Ricky Burns defending his WBO Super Featherweight title against former champion Nicky Cook. There was already strong support with local fighter Tony Bellew's rematch against Ovill McKenzie and former amateur star Frankie Gavin taking on ex footballer Curtis Woodhouse, and this was strengthened when one of the potentially most exciting domestic fights of the year between John Murray & Kevin Mitchell was added (due to a virus Mitchell had picked up it was moved back form the previous weekend)

If everything goes ahead as scheduled this should turn out to be the best domestic card all season & there really should have been greater media coverage. Although I suppose many of our newspapers have other issues at present...

Will start off with the world title fight which sees Burns, from Coatbridge, Scotland, making the third defense of his title, won dramatically last September from Roman Martinez. I thought that fight was one of the highlights of the year; Burns went in as a huge underdog with many (myself included) not giving him a prayer against the hard hitting champion yet he survived a heavy knock down in the opening round to outbox Martinez & despite a few wobbly moments, ended a convincing winner. I'd not been that impressed previously by Burns; he'd  rebounded after a couple of early career defeats, admittedly against decent opponents, but looked to lack the power to rise above domestic level. However he seems to have gained real belief from his title victory & impressed in his first two defenses

Cook appears lucky to have got this opportunity having only fought once, against a journeyman, since losing the title to Martinez back in March 2009 in his first defense. An earlier world title bid had ended in failure but he took his second chance when scraping past Alex Arthur on a disputed points verdict; it's worth noting that Arthur was one of the two people to have beaten Burns but he was struggling with the weight & seemed past his best by the time he faced Cook. Against Martinez, Cook started strongly but neglected his defense when he thought the Puerto Rican was in trouble & paid for it with two heavy knockdowns in the 4th round to end his brief reign as champion.

A lot of the interviews in the build up have concerned Cook's plans for buying a bar in Tenerife after he retires which suggest a possible lack of focus & with Burns growing into his role as champion I'd expect him to retain the title. He should be capable of using his reach & height advantage to keep the shorter man at range and pick him off for a clear points victory. Cook does have the punch power to hurt Burns though & it's been a while since Burns fought away from his passionate Scottish fan base so it is a fight well worth watching

Still think Burnt or Cooked is one of the daftest names for a card though