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IBF would approve Vazquez-Burns

Fighters Network
14
Jan

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IBF Championships Chairman Lindsay Tucker would likely approve a bout that has apparently been proposed for March 16 by English promoter Frank Warren between British WBO lightweight beltholder holder Ricky Burns and Mexican IBF counterpart Miguel Vazquez that would be televised on Britain’s Sky Television as well as EPIX in the United States, according to reports.

Vazquez (33-3, 13 knockouts) is coming off a unanimous decision over previously unbeaten prospect Mercito Gesta (26-1-1, 14 KOs), a victory that marked his fifth title defense and his 12th straight win during a run.

Vazquez outclassed Gesta on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao-juan Manuel Marquez IV on Dec. 8



A technical, mobile boxer, Vazquez entered the Gesta fight following a split-decision win over IBF mandatory challenger Marvin Quintero last September.

“I have not received an official request, but since Miguel Vazquez has completed his mandatory, the fight with Burns shouldn’t be a problem,” said Tucker of the clash that is being targeted for London’s Wembley Arena.

“Normally, the unification takes priority over the mandatory, but Vazquez is not due for a mandatory for a while, so it would not be a problem. So as I have said, if they send the official request, then under our rules, their unification takes priority.”

Vazquez also told RingTV.com that he also wanted to face WBC counterpart Adrien “The Problem” Broner (25-0, 21 KOs), a 23-year-old who is coming off November’s eighth-round knockout that dethroned Antonio DeMarco, and who is scheduled to defend against former 140-pound beltholder Gavin Rees (37-1-1, 18 KOs), of Wales, on Feb. 16.

“I have not received an official request, but I got a voice mail message yesterday from a guy named Dean Powell, who works for Frank Warren over there in England, and he left me a message would it be okay for IBF champion Miguel Vazquez to fight Ricky Burns,” said Tucker.

“I never got a chance to confirm it because I haven’t spoken to him. I tried calling him back and I couldn’t leave a message because his mailbox was full, but I did send him an e-mail saying that if they want to do it, that they should send us the request.”

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A talented 29-year-old boxer, Burns (35-2, 10 KOs) would be after his 21st consecutive win and his eighth stoppage during that run against Vazquez. The Scotsman is coming off a fourth-round stoppage of world-ranked Kevin Mitchell last September.

Vazquez, a 26-year-old Guadalajara, Mexico native, has not suffered defeat while competing at 135 pounds, having fallen by decisions against unbeaten current WBC junior middleweight titleholder Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and WBO welterweight beltholder Tim Bradley.

Vazquez lost his professional debut by split-decision to Alvarez over four rounds as junior welterweights in January of 2006, and was decisioned by him again over 10 rounds as 148-pounders in June of 2008.

Vazquez was beaten in a junior welterweight bout by Bradley — a split-decision winner against Pacquiao in June — over 10 rounds in July of 2007.

Burns-Vazquez is to include a defense by WBO lightweight beltholder Nathan Cleverly (25-0, 12 KOs) against Robin Krasniqi (39-2, 15 KOs), a winner of 38 consecutive bouts, 14 by knockout.

Bouts featuring super middleweight George Groves (16-0, 12 KOs) against Mouhamed Ali Ndiaye (22-1, 13 KOs), a winner of nine straight, five by stoppage, southpaw junior lightweight Liam Walsh (13-0, 10 KOs) opposite Logan McGuinness (19-0, 9 KOs), and heavyweight Dereck Chisora (15-4, 9 KOs) are also slated for the card.

Photo by Naoki Fukuda

Photo by Scott Heavey, Getty Images

Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]