Burns defends his WBO strap against Moses this Saturday

By Scott Gilfoid: WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns (33-2, 9 KO’s) will be facing pure pain in the form of Paulus Moses (28-1, 19 KO’s) this Saturday night in the 28-year-old Burns’ first and possibly his only title defense of his World Boxing Organization title. It’s too bad that he had to face the dangerous Moses in his first defense, because Burns might have been able to pull a milk job if he could have faced a weaker opponent.


When you get beyond Moses, there’s not really much in the way of talent in the WBO’s top 15. It’s Moses and then bunch of a flawed fighter that even a light hitter like Burns could beat with no trouble. The lightweight division is incredibly weak right now and they need some of the super featherweight talents like Adrien Broner to move up in weight so that he can take over the division and rule it with an iron fist. But that’s not happening for now, so Moses is the best there is right now in terms of the WBO’s top 15. I know Kevin Mitchell is listed at #1 by the WBO, but I don’t agree with that ranking at all. Mitchell was already exposed by Michael Katsidis by a 3rd round TKO in May 2010, and I see nothing changing in his game. He’s still vulnerable as heck to big punchers.


Burns has his hands full with Moses because this guy is better than him in every department – hand speed, left hook, right hand, power, experience and reach. Moses has got it all and he’s very, very smart in the ring. He likes to trick guys with his power but hitting with only minimum power but then all of a sudden loading up with a really big shot to hurt them. Burns will be right there begging to get hit in the puss by standing right in front of Moses for as long as this fight lasts.