Ricky Burns Promoted To Full World Champion
By Iain Langmaid February 1st, 2012 All Boxing ArticlesThe World Boxing Organisation have promoted Coatbridge’s Ricky Burns, who previously held their Super Featherweight title, as their “full” Lightweight Champion following his victory against Michael Katsidis at Wembley Arena.
This ruling comes after Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez’s decision to vacate his WBO Lightweight title to fight full time as a Welterweight following his loss to Filipino Icon Manny Pacquiao in their third fight.
The WBO’s decision to promote Burns means that Britain now starts the 2012 Boxing year with two “full” World Champions, with the other being Burns' stablemate at Frank Warren Promotions, the unbeaten Welshman Nathan Cleverly up at Light-Heavyweight.
Burns joins an exclusive club of British fighters who have been World Champions at two or more weights during their careers, such as David Haye, who won titles at Cruiserweight and Heavyweight, Nigel Benn at Middleweight and Super Middleweight and Duke McKenzie, who held World titles at Flyweight, Bantamweight and Super-Bantamweight and Bob Fitzsimmons, who, at the turn of the 20th century, was the first man to win World titles at three different weights.
Burns will make the first defence of his full World title against Namibia's Paulus Moses, a former WBA champion, at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow on the 10th March.
