Burns vs Marquez and Cleverly vs Shumenov would be two very very good fights for British boxing. Not saying Burns would win, but there are easier fights out there for Marquez. Burns is a big dude at the weight, can take a dig, and has a bit of variety to him.
After bulking up the way he did for Pacquiao, I think the absolute lowest Marquez should campaign at now is 140.
Marquez would be favourite, but I wouldn't put it past Burns to really test him. He (Burns) does have a good workrate and can as you say, dig a bit. His defense was good too vs kats. Marquez has great ring knowledge tho and being the great fighter/counter puncher he is, this could prove to be a deciding factor. I've never heard of Shumenov. Any good?
I think it makes sense that if Mitchell wants Burns and Warren wants Burns to fight in Glasgow next, have Burns vs Mitchell at the end of Feb, or start of March.
Agreed. He would be thick to sweat himself down to 135......and Burns probably doesn't have the financial muscle to make him do it, though a stadium fight in England next Summer would make millions of $ for both men. As daft as this may sound, Marquez is not Superman, and there is an established routine in boxing which sees young, underrated fighters get the better of guys who are a bit past their best and not 100% prepared. Examples would be Laing vs Duran or the recent Katsidis vs Burns fight. A 135lb Marquez, with some miles on the belt, fighting away from home against a brash kid with some confidence could well be an upset in the making.
Yep. Especially if he's drained and lethargic in there. He won't find burning that muscle, especially at his advanced age, nearly as easy as losing the love handles post-Mayweather. If money is his goal, he should probably challenge Morales at 140.
If Marquez faces Morales, which is a money spinner too, then Burns will become "full" WBO champ, for what that is worth, and can look forward to domestic clashes with Kevin Mitchell. He knows a fight with Marquez gets him a payday and probably a title anyways after Marquez is stripped/vacates after winning. If Shumenov does fight Cleverly and Burns does fight Marquez then that would be pretty decent news for British boxing.
If Marquez is anywhere close to the man he's been, no doubt he spanks Burns... I just wouldn't risk the body damage if I were JMM. Morales does seem the best bet.
He would beat Burns without any doubt but Burns only lost to Alex Arthur who was, at one point, a Wild-Card regular. Arthur is in fact an excellent boxer, he just lacks ruggedness and bottle. Burns lost to him when he, Burns, was green. I don't think Marquez fancies paying money to the WBO for the pleasure of fighting a guy he won't get any credit for beating. Ending Morales career means he would have faced Morales, Barrera, Floyd, Pac-times-three in a HoF career.
Decent fights. Morales is of course not an elite fighter at all, but the sheer gimmickry of it attracts me.....I wouldn't pay for it mind. What you think of Shumenov vs Cleverly?
Burns lost to Carl Johansson too, I believe. Same kind of thing though, he was green and naive, and was outdone by Carls strength at the time.
Just saw a clip of shumenov. He doesn't seem too adventurous or too willing to throw combos, instead opting to pick one shot at a time, you know. he'd have his hands full with Nathan.
Yup, I don't see Marquez ever again fighting at 135 - and really, beyond a 4th fight w/ Pacquiao and/or a forever overdue showdown w. Morales, it's possible that he doesn't ever again fights at all.
