SCOTTISH boxing legend Jim Watt has hailed Ricky Burns for making history against Michele di Rocco on Saturday night and urged him to cash in on his new-found status by defending his World Super Lightweight title in a string of Glasgow shows. The 33-year-old from Coatbridge, who was financially ruined by a high-profile court case with former promoter Frank Warren, became Scotland's first-ever three weight world champion when he stopped the Italian midway through the ninth round at the SSE Hydro, an achievement which at least allows him to be in the same conversation as boxing greats such as Ken Buchanan, Watt himself and Scott Harrison.
A number of options are suddenly open for him in a weight division which is stacked with the likes of Terence Crawford, Adrien Broner, Ukraine's Viktor Postal and Argentina's Lucas Matthysse. The versatile Burns, previously a holder of the WBO super-featherweight and lightweight belts, could also drop back down to lightweight to take big fights in that division but whatever happens Watt feels he has earned the right to some big money purses in the Hydro, where he can also be a headline act for an emerging generation of Scottish fighters which includes Charlie Flynn, Josh Taylor and Joe Ham.
“He’s now won world titles at three different weights," said Watt. "I mean, Christ almighty! There are only two British people who’ve done that before [Duke McKenzie and Bob Fitzsimmons] and one of them did it back in the 19th century.
“He’s a world champion and he wants to make money," added the 67-year-old, who successfully defended the WBC lightweight trophy four times during the early 1980s. "If he goes back to lightweight then he’ll be a challenger rather than a champion so why would you want to do that? As a defending champion he’ll pack the Hydro and sell tickets. The promoters took a chance on Saturday and they got a great response.
“If I was Ricky, I would cash in on the title by making some defences. Don’t forget that he’s 33 now – they way he talks, he wants to box forever but you can’t do that. If you don’t retire then the game will retire you.
“It was a brilliant performance and he’s now in a red-hot division. Ricky was pretty fortunate to land Di Rocco because there are some beasts at light-welter he could have been fighting instead. Now he’s the world champion, though, he can defend against these guys. There are some terrific matches – like Matthysse or Postal, although he doesn’t want Terence Crawford again. But all those guys are in the mix and Ricky can start making a few quid again. Life has dealt him some cruel blows over the past few years and this gives him the chance to secure his future again.”
Comparing fighters and eras is always a tricky business but this was a bravura performance by Burns, who rarely gave Di Rocco a look in prior to finishing off business with aplomb in the ninth round. As disappointing as the Italian was on the night, Watt feels his fellow Scot - who now works with trainer Tony Sims down in Essex - has never fought better. Amazingly, when he first saw this product of Coatbridge, Watt felt he wouldn't win one world title - let alone three at different weight classes.
“What Ricky’s done is fantastic," said Watt. "I’ll be honest – watching him early in his career I always had great respect for him but I never saw him as a world champion. But he’s an inspiration to everyone because he always gives 100 per cent to maximise what he has.
“He’s not the smartest fighter in the world when it comes to tactics and he doesn’t make you think: ‘My God, that’s wonderful’ but he trains harder than everyone else in the gym and gives it all he has. Because of that he’s a three-time world champion and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke at a better time. Scottish boxing needs a headliner. There’s always someone – it was me then it was Scott Harrison and now its Ricky
“He’s made history and he’s on a high," Watt added. "I think he showed that he’s got his old form back. He’s able to concentrate on his boxing now and that was vintage Burns: he was as good as I’ve seen him. Okay, Di Rocco was a bit of a disappointment but that’s got nothing to do with Ricky, who did everything right from the first bell. "To be honest, even a year ago, I didn’t see him becoming world champion again so you also have to congratulate Eddie Hearn for a terrific piece of matchmaking. He managed to get the world No.7 to fight for a vacant title when it should be the No.1 and No.2 contenders. So fair play to him.”
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