Ricky Burns Returns – The SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland hosts Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing this Saturday, May 28th with a 14-fight boxing card headlined by Ricky Burns’ return to the world title picture. Burns faces Italy’s Michele Di Rocco for the vacant WBA 140-lb title.
Burns held the WBO’s world titles at 130 and 135 pounds from 2010 to 2013 and he made six successful defenses of the belts overall. In September, 2013 he did not impress against Ray Beltran and he was lucky to escape with a draw. He lost the belt in his next outing to Terence Crawford. Though there is no shame in losing to Crawford, he has gone just 3-2 since then and there have been times where he just looks old.
Di Rocco brings a strong (40-1-1) overall record to the table and he has held the EBU European title since June of 2013. The lone loss of his career came back in September of 2007 when he was stopped by veteran Giuseppe Lauri in his second bid for the Euro belt. His first fight for the European title was in 2006 and ended in a draw. Known as “The King,” Di Rocco is 34 years old and this will be just the third fight outside of Italy in his long career, and it is the first time he fights in the U.K.
Burns appears determined to make one more run at a world title. Should he win it he will be back in deep water as the 140-lb weight class is still ruled by Terence Crawford, and Crawford already went to England and took a belt from him once.
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The undercard of the show features a lot of name recognition as Hearn is putting on a deep card in Glasgow. It is unusual for there to be odds on a four-round fight, but second generation fighter Conor Benn (1-0) is fighting his second pro fight and, as expected, he is entering the match a big favorite.
The BBBofC British title at 140 lbs is on the line between Tyrone Nurse (32-2-1) and Willie Limond (39-4) in a battle of very experienced fighters. Limond has put together a five-fight winning streak since his loss to future world titleholder Anthony Crolla, and he also has a loss to Amir Khan on his record, so he has logged some high level competition. Nurse sports a great record and this is his first defense of the title, but he has no real big names on his resume they was Limond does.
In cruiserweight action, undefeated 8-0 Tommy McCarthy takes on 17-4 veteran Jon Lewis Dickinson in the evening’s lone 10-round bout. This is a step-up fight for both men as neither has had many opponents with winning records.
Ricky Burns Returns
Below are the latest lines available at the sport books for Saturday’s fights in Glasgow. Check back later in the week to see if more lines pop-up or if any over/under numbers are posted. Check out the latest Talk ‘n’ Shoot Podcast for more details.
Super Lightweight 12 rounds –
Michele Di Rocco +300
Ricky Burns -360
Super Lightweight 4 rounds –
Luke Keleher +1000
Conor Benn -2000
Super Lightweight 12 rounds –
Willie Limond +250
Tyrone Nurse -350
Cruiserweight 10 rounds –
Jon Lewis Dickinson +125
Tommy McCarthy -165
