In Glasgow last night, Scotland?s Ricky Burns had high hopes of leaving the ring with the WBA, IBF and IBO world super-lightweight belts around his waist.
However, his dream was to be shattered by a very good champion from Namibia, Julius Indongo.
Indongo, 34-years-of-age, the same as Burns, produced a slick, polished display that saw Burns comprehensively beaten.
When the bell sounded for the end of the 12th round, at the Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Burns knew that he had been beaten and that his chances of a further unification fight, this time with Terence Crawford in Las Vegas, had gone.
Perhaps the only surprise of the night was the disparity in the scorecards with many believing that Indongo had won every round, with the scores being announced as:
? 120 ? 108 (in favour of Indongo)
? 118 ? 110 (in favour of Indongo)
? 116 ? 112 (in favour of Indongo)
That last score was an injustice to the boxer from Namibia.
Indongo started the fight better and looked to be the bigger super-lightweight. His long reach and punches being thrown from unusual angles trouble Burns who looked to be struggling to get into the fight.
Burns briefly rallied in middle rounds but never, in my opinion, did enough to take the rounds, Indongo was also pushing the Scot back and as the fight wore on Burns looked to be on the verge of being stopped.
However, Burns inner strength saw him hang on in there and once the verdict had been announced an honest Burns remarked to the media,
‘The better man won on the night, no excuses.?
It remains to be seen what the next step is that Burns will take in his career following this defeat but for Indongo the future looks very bright and that clash Burns was hoping for with Terence Crawford could be Indongo?s for the taking.
Burns Beaten by Indongo in Unification Fight
