Ricky Burns facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ricky Burns
Burns in 2013
Statistics
Nickname(s)	The Rickster
Rated at	Super-featherweight Lightweight Light-welterweight Welterweight
Height	5 ft 9 in
Reach	70 in
Nationality	Scottish
Born	(1983-04-13) 13 April 1983 (age 42) Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	54
Wins	45
Wins by KO	17
Losses	8
Draws	1

Ricky Burns (born 13 April 1983) is a Scottish professional boxer. He has won world titles in three different weight classes! He held the WBO super-featherweight title from 2010 to 2011. Then, he became the WBO lightweight champion from 2012 to 2014. Later, he also held the WBA light welterweight title from 2016 to 2017.

Ricky also won the Commonwealth super-featherweight title. He has fought for other important titles too, like the British and European super-featherweight belts.

Ricky's Boxing Journey

Starting Out as a Super-Featherweight

First Fights

Ricky Burns started his professional boxing career in October 2001. His very first fight was a win over Woody Greenaway in Glasgow, Scotland. He kept winning, beating fighters like Jeff Thomas and Daniel Thorpe.

In December 2004, Ricky faced another undefeated boxer, Colin Bain. Ricky won that fight, which was Bain's first loss. This big win helped Ricky get a chance to fight the British lightweight champion, Graham Earl. Ricky surprised everyone by beating Earl in an eight-round fight in London. This was a huge step for him!

Fighting for British Titles

In February 2006, Ricky got his first shot at a major title. He fought Alex Arthur, who held the British, Commonwealth, and European titles. Ricky lost the fight on points, but he impressed everyone, even Arthur! Arthur said Ricky was a "brilliant boxer with a great future." Ricky wasn't sad about the loss. He said it was great experience for him at only 22 years old.

About a year later, in February 2007, Ricky fought for the British title again. He faced Carl Johanneson in Leeds. Ricky lost this fight too, but he kept learning and growing as a boxer.

Getting Back on Track

After his second loss, Ricky decided to make a change. He left his old boxing club to find a new challenge. He had trained with his coach, Rab Bannan, for 14 years, so it was a tough decision. But they parted ways as friends. Ricky moved to a new gym in Glasgow. There, he trained with other top boxers.

After this change, Ricky won eight fights in a row! He even won a smaller title called the British International Masters belt. He also helped his former opponent, Alex Arthur, get ready for a big world title fight.

Becoming Commonwealth Champion

In September 2008, Ricky got a chance to fight for the vacant Commonwealth title. He fought Osumanu Akaba from Ghana and won the title after 12 rounds. This win really put Ricky in the spotlight!

Ricky defended his Commonwealth title two more times. In November 2008, he beat Yakubu Amidu. Then, in March 2009, he stopped former British champion Michael Gomez in the seventh round. Ricky's toughest defense was in June 2009 against Kevin O'Hara. He won that fight too, with help from his new trainer, Billy Nelson.

Ricky Becomes a World Champion!

Ricky's success meant he was ranked number one by the WBO (World Boxing Organization). His promoter, Frank Warren, worked hard to arrange a fight with the world champion, Roman Martínez. After many delays, the fight was finally set for September 4, 2010, in Glasgow.

Ricky went into the ring at Kelvin Hall to face the undefeated world champion. Even though Ricky was knocked down in the first round, he fought bravely. He won the fight by decision, meaning he won on the judges' scorecards! This was a huge moment for Ricky, as he became a world champion and gave Martinez his first ever loss.

Frank Warren, Ricky's promoter, said it was an "electric" night. He called Ricky a new "sporting hero" for Scotland. Even the manager of Celtic Football Club, Neil Lennon, called Ricky to wish him luck!

Defending His Title

Ricky defended his WBO super-featherweight title three times.

• On December 4, 2010, he beat Andreas Evensen from Norway.
• On March 12, 2011, he defeated Joseph Laryea from Ghana.
• His next defense was on July 16, 2011, against former WBO champion Nicky Cook. Ricky won very quickly, in just 93 seconds, when Cook's corner stopped the fight due to an injury.

Ricky was supposed to fight Adrien Broner next. But on September 22, 2011, Ricky announced he would give up his super-featherweight title. He decided to move up to the lightweight division. He said it was getting too hard to control his weight for the super-featherweight limit.

Moving Up to Lightweight

Fighting for a New Title

For his first fight at lightweight, Ricky fought Australian Michael Katsidis for the WBO interim lightweight title. Ricky knew it would be a tough fight. On November 5, 2011, Ricky won the fight by unanimous decision, even though many thought Katsidis would win. Ricky said he "proved a lot of people wrong."

Becoming Full Lightweight Champion

On January 26, 2012, Ricky officially became the WBO lightweight champion! The previous champion, Juan Manuel Márquez, moved up to a heavier weight class.

Ricky defended his new title against Paulus Moses from Namibia in Glasgow. Ricky won the fight by unanimous decision, showing he was too skilled for Moses.

A Big Scottish Fight

In June 2012, it was announced that Ricky would defend his title against fellow British boxer Kevin Mitchell. The fight happened on September 22, 2012, in Glasgow. Ricky had an amazing performance, winning by TKO (Technical Knockout) in the fourth round. He knocked Mitchell down twice, and the referee stopped the fight. This win showed everyone that Ricky was one of the best lightweight boxers in the world.

Changing Promoters

Ricky was supposed to fight again in December 2012, but his opponent had to pull out. Then, another opponent also had to cancel. After some issues, Ricky announced in March 2013 that he had left his promoter, Frank Warren.

Soon after, Ricky joined Eddie Hearn's Matchroom promotions. His first fight with Matchroom was on May 11, 2013, against Jose Gonzalez in Glasgow. Ricky won the fight when Gonzalez stopped fighting in the ninth round due to a wrist injury.

Tough Fights and a Broken Jaw

On September 7, 2013, Ricky fought Ray Beltrán from Mexico. Ricky was knocked down in the eighth round. The fight ended in a controversial split-decision draw, meaning the judges couldn't agree on a clear winner. Many people thought Beltran had won. After the fight, it was confirmed that Beltran had broken Ricky's jaw early in the fight!

After surgery, Ricky wanted a rematch with Beltran. However, the WBO ordered him to fight Terence Crawford. The fight took place on March 1, 2014, in Scotland. Crawford won by unanimous decision, and Ricky lost his WBO lightweight title.

More Challenges

On June 27, 2014, Ricky fought Dejan Zlatičanin in Glasgow. He lost this fight by a split decision, which was his second loss in a row.

Moving to Light-Welterweight

After his loss to Zlatičanin, Ricky decided to move up to the light-welterweight division. On October 4, 2014, he won his first fight in this new weight class against Alexandre Lepelley.

Fighting in the USA

In May 2015, Ricky made his debut in the United States. He fought undefeated former champion Omar Figueroa Jr. in Texas. It was a tough fight, and Ricky lost by a controversial decision. The referee even took points away from Ricky for holding, which many thought was unfair.

After this, Ricky won two fights in a row. He beat Prince Ofotsu by TKO and Josh King by KO.

Winning Another World Title!

On March 15, 2016, it was announced that Ricky would fight Italian boxer Michele di Rocco for the vacant WBA light-welterweight title. The fight was in Glasgow on May 28, 2016. Ricky dominated the fight, knocking his opponent down and stopping him in the eighth round! This meant Ricky had won a world title in his third different weight class, which is a huge achievement!

Ricky then defended his WBA title against Kiryl Relikh on October 7, 2016. Ricky won by unanimous decision after a tough 12-round fight.

Unification Fight

In January 2017, it was confirmed that Ricky would fight Julius Indongo, who held the IBF and IBO light-welterweight titles. This was a "unification" fight, meaning the winner would hold multiple world titles. It was Scotland's first-ever unification fight! The fight took place on April 15, 2017, in Glasgow. Ricky lost the fight by a clear decision. He praised Indongo after the fight, saying he was "a lot better than we thought." Ricky also said he wouldn't retire.

Back to Lightweight

All-British Showdown

In July 2017, there were talks about a big fight between Ricky and fellow British boxer Anthony Crolla. Both boxers had recently lost fights, so this was a very important match for both of them. The fight was set for October 7, 2017, in Manchester.

Crolla won the fight by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. He was busier and threw more punches. Ricky felt he had landed cleaner shots and thought he had done enough to win. Both boxers showed great respect for each other after the fight.

More Wins

On June 16, 2018, Ricky had his 50th professional fight! He won against Ivan Njegac. Ricky said he planned to keep boxing.

Then, on short notice, Ricky stepped in to fight Scott Cardle on November 10, 2018. Ricky dominated the fight and knocked out Cardle in the third round! This was a great comeback win for him.

Final Fights

On October 26, 2019, Ricky faced former world champion Lee Selby. Selby won the fight by a majority decision.

Ricky's most recent fight was a win against Willie Limond in September 2023.

Professional boxing record

See also

• List of boxing triple champions