by Tamas Pradarics –

Paulus Moses got one step closer to an eventual world title fight with a strong performance in his native Namibia last Saturday night. The former WBA lightweight champion faced replacement opponent Chrispine Moliati (18-7-4, 8 KOs) in a bout served as the main event at Ramatex Factory in Windhoek as part of the traditional Independence celebrations in Namibia.

Moses (39-3-0-1, 24 KOs), who is the current WBO Africa belt holder, delivered a dominant performance against his Malawian foe before knocking him out in the seventh stanza.

“I am completely satisfied with my performance, ranked number six by the WBO now I am looking forward to another world title fight hopefully in the not too distant future. I am still one of the best in the world in the [lightweight] division, and want to fight whoever thinks they are the best,” said Moses.

moses

The WBO title is held by British Terry Flanagan, who is scheduled to make a voluntary defense against #2 ranked Petr Petrov on April 8 in Manchester.

Moses needs to be patient to get his chance to regain a portion of the lightweight crown as unbeaten #1 ranked contender Felix Verdejo and former three-time world title challenger Raymundo Beltran is also pushing to get the fight against Flanagan.

In other results of the card, undefeated middleweight prospect Walter Kautondokwa (14-0, 13 KOs) defended his version of the WBO Africa belt with an impressive tenth round knockout against Uganda’s Med Sebyala (16-10-1, 13 KOs). Kautondokwa is currently ranked #8 by the WBO and is on his way to build himself up to a world title fight.

Featherweight prospect Sakaria Lukas (19-0, 13 KOs) also retained his WBO Africa belt against Oscar Chauke (35-12-3, 11 KOs) by way of a twelve round decision.

“Sakaria is a wonder kid with great talent and I would love to see him fight a big opponent soon,” said Nestor Tobias, promoter of the event.

Tobias’s next important evening as a promoter/manager is going to be on April 15 in Glasgow, where his only current world champion, IBF/IBO titlist Julius Indongo, is scheduled to face WBA belt holder Ricky Burns in a junior-welterweight unification bout.

www.boxingscene.com/paulus-moses-secured-win-wants-best-lightweight–115342?print_friendly=1

 

 

Paulus-Moses-Inaction-120310G300

Namibia’s Paulus Moses, a former WBO lightweight champion, retained his WBO Africa lightweight title when he stopped the gutsy Crispine Moliati from Malawi in the seventh round at the Ramatex Hall in Windhoek, Namibia on Saturday night.

Moses’ original opponent Benoit Vela from the DRC was withdrawn at the last minute after failing a medical test. Promoter Nestor Tobias then brought in Moliati, who used his jab from the opening round and stood toe-to-toe with Moses through the first six rounds.

However, the more experienced Moses, 38, proved too good for the Malawian, piling up the points with his educated left jab and in the seventh round he dropped Moliati, 27, with a right hook.

He managed to beat the count but was in no condition to continue as the referee waved the fight off at 40 seconds into the round.

In a night of WBO title fights Siboniso Ngonya from South Africa outpointed Immanuel Naidjala of Namibia over 12 rounds to claim the WBO Intercontinental lightweight title. The scores were 116-109, 115-110 and 113-112.

Namibia’s Sakaria Lucas outpointed Oscar Chauke from South Africa to retain his WBO Africa featherweight title. The scores were 118-109, 117-110 twice.

Walter Kautondowka retained his WBO Africa middleweight title when he stopped Med Sebyala from Uganda in the tenth round.

Other results:
Junior welterweight: Jermiah Nakathila beat Varde Ndayambekwa, tko 1
Welterweight: Immanuel Kamungandjela beat Limbani Masamba, pts 6
Welterweight: Mike Shonena beat Chikondi Makawa, pts 6
Welterweight: Ebenestus Kaangundue beat Charles Misanjo, pts 6
Junior featherweight: Timoteus Shiluula beat Tinashe Mutodza, tko 4
Bantamweight: Andreas Amupolo beat Jafet Amukwaya, ko 2

www.supersport.com/boxing/south-africa/news/170403/Paulus_Moses_retains_WBO_Africa_title

Moses 1_0.story

Paulus Moses retained his WBO International Lightweight title after beating Leonardo Gonzalez of Argentina on a 7th round TKO.

Moses put Gonzalez down with a right hook and although the tough Argentinian immediately got up, Moses was all over him before the referee stepped in to stop the fight, 1 minute 37 seconds into the 7th round.

Moses got a good workout from Gonzales, who was brave but not in the same class.

Moses raked up the points with his sharp jab and quick combinations but his defence was not great, with Gonzalez also regularly finding the target.

In the fifth round Gonzalez pummeled away at Moses on the ropes but Moses got out and finished the round stronger.

Moses controlled round six, landing some quick combinations and moving slickly, before the end came in the seventh round.

In the main supporting bout Tyson Ushona retained his WBO Africa welterweight title with a unanimous points decision over 12 rounds against Kaizer Mabuza of South Africa.

Mabuza gave Ushona a tough workout but in the end all three judges scored the fight 118-109 to Ushona.

Ushona was the busier fighter while he also sent Mabuza to the canvas with a sharp hook in the tenth round.

Pascal Ndomba of Tanzania was no match for Vikapita Meroro who retained his WBO Africa cruiserweight title after a second round TKO.

Meroro held a 6kg advantage and a big reach advantage and after a slow start, landed some big body shots by the second round. Ndomba clearly had had enough and did not come out for the third round.

The results of other fights were as follows:

Martin Haikali beat Nkosinathi Ntshangase (SA) on points over 8 rounds (76-76, 78-75, 78-75).

Peter Malakia beat Matheus Shimbi on points over 6 rounds (58-54, 59-53, 59-53).

Jafet Utoni beat Neaman Angula on points over 4 rounds (40-36, 40-36, 40-36).

Onesmus Nekundi bear Abner Mwafangejo on points over 4 rounds (39-37, 39-37, 38-38).

Mike Shonena beat Kapena Hamunyela on points over 4 rounds (40-34, 40-34, 40-34).

http://www.namibiasport.com.na/node/32938

 

WINDHOEK – There seems to be no stopping Namibian boxers in their quest to become world-class hard punchers in the rigorous sport of professional boxing.

This was confirmed by Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda, Tyson Uushona and Paulus ‘The Hitman’ Moses after the trio emerged victorious in their respective international bouts at a fully packed Ramatex Hall in Windhoek on Saturday evening.

Undisputed World Boxing Organization (WBO) Africa Bantamweight Champion Ambunda was clearly in no mood to compromise as he gave his Brazilian opponent William Prado a decent hiding to successfully defend his belt. In doing so, Ambunda extended his record to 20-wins from the same number of bouts in the paid ranks.

Both fighters started off like a house on fire with Ambunda closing in with a few decent blows to which the streetwise Brazilian responded well in the opening two rounds.

The subsequent rounds saw Ambunda up his tempo as he unleashed a combination of impressive blows that had Prado on the back foot for the duration.

In the 5th and 8th rounds of heated action, the hard-punching Ambunda kept his momentum going and fired some well-calculated body blows coupled with a few upper-cuts that left Prado bleeding profusely from the nose with a Kilmanjaro to scale.
In the final four rounds, the Brazilian desperately tried to salvage something from the contest with some short-lived attacks, but Ambunda kept coming forward until the final seconds of the bout to emerge the well-deserved victor.

In another crackerjack affair, Uushona retained the WBO Africa Welterweight title when he defeated South African opponent Isaac Hlashwayo on points after 12-rounds of heated action, to claim the WBO Africa Welterweight title.

Crowd favourite and former World Boxing Association (WBA) Lightweight champion ‘The Hitman’ Moses signaled his desire for another shot at the coveted world title when he gallantly defeated his namesake Cassius ‘The Hitman’ Baloyi from South Africa in a WBO International Lightweight title bout over 10-rounds.

Abmerk Shindjuu also retained the WBO Africa Flyweight crown with a courageous victory over Khanyekude Mukhansi (RSA) after 12-rounds of brawling action.

In other under card bouts, Peter ‘The Butcher’ Malakia defeated Zimbabwean Tawanda Chigwida on points in an International lightweight non-tile bout over 4-rounds, while Samuel Kapapu returned the compliment to his compatriot by trouncing Richard Muriri from Zimbabwe on points in another Lightweight four rounder.

In the Junior Lightweight division, Abraham Ndaendapo easily waltzed past Matthew Chimbi on points, while Niilo Frans saw off Manfred Haimbanga in an all-Namibian affair.

By: Otniel Hembapu

http://www.newera.com.na/articles/46635/Local-boxers-unstoppable

Ricky Burns has his sights set on bigger fights after a confident if unspectacular first defence of his WBO lightweight belt.

The Scot scored a unanimous points win over Namibia-based Paulus Moses in front of a 6,000 capacity crowd at Braehead Arena on the outskirts of Glasgow.

Burns has now won six fights at world level and will discuss options with promoter Frank Warren and manager Alex Morrison early next week.

A fight with Londoner Kevin Mitchell, who holds the WBO inter-continental belt after a thrilling victory against John Murray, would capture the imagination of boxing fans on both sides of the border, but Burns was reluctant to name names after his latest comfortable triumph.

Burns said: “I’m happy to get the win, it was a good fight and a good 12 rounds in the bank.

“I’ll get a wee break now and sit down and talk about what happens next.

“There have been a few names out there mentioned.

“I have always said I will fight whoever they put in front of me. Rather than me shout out names and who I want to fight, I’ll do my talking in the ring. Whoever they want to get me to fight, it’s no problem at all.

“I got the win and we can start looking at bigger fights now.”

Although Burns was never in trouble, the scorecard of 119-110 120-110 117-111 probably did not reflect the difficulty Burns had against the 33-year-old former WBA lightweight champion, who has 19 knockouts to his name.

Burns, who struggled with a minor shoulder injury in the final few rounds, acknowledged his opponent’s threat had forced him into caution at times.

“Some of the rounds it was tough,” Burns said.

“He could punch, he caught me with a few good right hands.

“I’ve always said I can take a good shot. I shrugged it off and got on with the fight.”

The Coatbridge boxer, who dominated the first five rounds, added: “A few times I banged them (body shots) in, a couple of times I thought I hurt him.

“But he was taking them well and I didn’t want to dive in because I didn’t know if he was trying to draw me in.

“He was looking for the counters all the time and the right hand over the top, which he caught me with a couple of times.

“I thought I was doing all right but maybe I shouldn’t have got caught those couple of times.

“But I’m still learning and I’ve always said there are still more improvements to come. I can look onwards and upwards now.”

Whatever the profile of the next opponent for Burns, who gets married next month, he has proved he can draw an increasingly large crowd.

Braehead had been only half full for his previous two fights there despite his stunning victory over Roman Martinez at the smaller Kelvin Hall.

After fights in Liverpool and Wembley, Burns sold out the arena and the atmosphere at times evoked that memorable night against the previously unbeaten Martinez, when Burns upset the odds to win the WBO super-featherweight title.

The 28-year-old said: “I just want to thank everyone that has come down. I couldn’t believe it when I walked out.

“The fans were fantastic and I hope they all had a good time.

“When I walked out the changing room, you could hear them all singing.

“Everyone says the Glasgow crowd are excellent and they proved that again.”

 

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=50510

There are many ways to win a fight, but Ricky Burns again did not stray far from his stick-and-move formula to turn back the rugged challenge of Paulus Moses and retain his WBO lightweight title in front of an appreciative Scottish audience.

Judges awarded him the decision by margins of 119-110, 120-110 and 117-110 – a little harsh on the African challenger, from this vantage point, at least: I had him winning 116-113. The Coatbridge man remains on track for a considerably bigger fight in June, against the Londoner Kevin Mitchell.

Burns got a lager-spilling reception from the 6,000 fans in the Braehead Arena on his return to a Glasgow ring after an absence of a year – although it was a bit rude to play Flower of Scotland for the champion and be left to wonder what the Namibian anthem sounds like.

Snubbed or not, Moses was intent on making it a long night for Burns. The heavy-handed man from Windhoek, a former WBA champion, rumbled after Burns, who took a round or two to hit a rhythm, his pink gloves incongruous but effective weapons.

The Burns right, thrown at an angle over his opponent’s guard, hit the target with encouraging regularity as he took control of centre ring, giving ground only when covering up on the ropes, a strategy that non-plussed the challenger.

Reduced to charging through a blizzard of pink, Moses soaked up a steady flow of blows to the head but remained dangerous on the counter. He looked to have shared the fifth and took the sixth, growing strong as Burns struggled to hold him at bay.

Moses continued to throw big shots in bunches, not all of them catching Burns’s high guard. The boisterous crowd of only a quarter of an hour earlier idled in relative silence, and the chatter from the visitor’s corner grew ever more urgent.

An overhand right rocked Burns early in the ninth but he came back with one of his own and a few more jabs and uppercuts near the bell to take control going into the championship rounds.

The crowd came to life in the 10th, as did Burns, weathering the now less frequent attacks by Moses – who looked his 33 years – and working more vigorously to the ribs. As the seconds ebbed, so did Moses.

The 12th started curiously. They hugged at the start, rather than merely touching gloves, then Burns looked distractedly down at his shorts; had it been Floyd Mayweather in front of him rather than the gentlemanly Moses, he would have spent the next 10 seconds staring at the ceiling. He returned to work quickly enough, dancing clear of danger, and banging out enough jabs to consolidate his advantage. Scotland would be no Promised Land for Moses.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/mar/11/ricky-burns-retains-title?newsfeed=true

Former WBA lightweight champion Paulus Moses is highly motivated by the chance to become the first Namibian to win world titles with two different organizations when he takes on WBO lightweight belt holder Ricky Burns Saturday at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow, Scotland. “In boxing, there are no easy fights. Every match is tough, every match is dangerous but fighting up in Scotland will not present a problem,” Moses told boxing writer Glynn Evans. “The crowd was against me many times in South Africa, and also Japan and the Ukraine yet I won every time. Even up in Scotland, a lot of Namibian people from all over Britain have expressed a wish to come and see this fight.

“Training has gone very well and my weight is fine. I haven’t seen Ricky Burns fight yet but, according to his record, he must be a very good boxer. It’s sure to be very tough, every fight is. Still, if you want to be the champion, you need to beat the champion. I’m very confident. I train to win and, if I succeed, I will become a big, big hero back home in Namibia. I’ve beaten better fighters than Ricky Burns before. I’m coming to take his title by knockout!”

 

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/moses-ive-beaten-better-fighters-than-burns-109839

Ricky Burns aims to make a successful defence of his WBO lightweight title against Paulus Moses on Saturday to reward his vast army of fans.

Burns, 28, is grateful for the sold-out home support at Glasgow’s Braehead Arena as he prepares to take on the Namibian challenger.

“I would like to say a big thanks to everyone who is going,” he said, before a media workout at trainer Billy Nelson’s Fighting Scots gym in Mossend, Lanarkshire.

“My phone has been going constantly with people asking for tickets. I was on the phone this morning to see if I could get any more, the demand has been unbelievable.

“My last couple of fights have been away from home and I think because a lot of people missed out and because it is in Glasgow, the response has been great.

 

http://www1.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/7574864/Burns-wants-reward-for-fans

 

Ricky Burns admits he knows little of Saturday’s opponent Paulus Moses, the WBO lightweight champion preferring to concentrate on his own training and prepare himself for “whatever he brings”.

Burns, 28, returns to Scotland for the first defence of his title, with the pair set for battle at a sold-out Braehead Arena in Glasgow.

A domestic showdown with rival Kevin Mitchell could await the Scot in the summer, but Burns says the last thing he can afford to do is take the Namibian challenger lightly, even if he has not watched him in action.

“This is a very dangerous fight, but I’ll do what I need to do to win” Burns told BBC Scotland. “He’s only lost once, he’s a former world champion with 28 victories from 29 fights, 19 knockouts: which shows he can punch a bit.

“I’ve still not watched any footage of him, I’ve left that to my trainer. When you watch your opponent you tend to look at what they’re good at, which can throw you off. I like to concentrate on what I’m going to do in the fight, so I go in there with a clear mind.

“We know he’s a good boxer, we know he’s got a big right hand – but I’ve been in the ring with big punchers before and proved I can take a shot so with this fight we’ll just go out and take it from the first round.”

Burns is excited to be fighting in front of his home fans for the first time in 12 months, insisting that the level of support has been overwhelming.

“I’m really looking forward to getting into the ring at the Braehead Arena – the last couple of fights have been away from home,” he added. “The support and the response I’ve been getting for this fight has been unbelievable. My phone’s still going constantly with people asking for tickets.

“If I win on Saturday then I think we’re going to need a bigger venue for the next fight.”

 

http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/story/139693.html

Ricky Burns aims to repay the fans who will pack out the Braehead Arena on Saturday night with victory when he defends his WBO lightweight title against Paulus Moses.

Despite stringent financial times, and the fight showing live on television, the 6,000-capacity arena on the outskirts of Glasgow is set for a sell-out.

Burns, 28, is grateful for the home support as he prepares to take on the Namibian challenger

“I would like to say a big thanks to everyone who is going,” he said, before a media workout at trainer Billy Nelson’s Fighting Scots gym in Mossend, Lanarkshire.

“My phone has been going constantly with people asking for tickets.

“I was on the phone this morning to see if I could get any more, the demand has been unbelievable.

“My last couple of fights have been away from home and I think because a lot of people missed out and because it is in Glasgow, the response has been great.

“There was only a couple of hundred tickets left the other day so it will definitely be a sell-out.

“The way things are going for this fight – as long as I win – the next one is going to have to be at a bigger venue up here.

“The people who can’t get to see it or have missed out, or left it too late to get their tickets, will be able to watch it live on BoxNation, so that’s a bonus.

“But I am just looking forward to getting on with it now.

“Once I step in that ring, I will need to try block the crowd out and get on with the job.”

Perhaps surprisingly, Burns has not watched the 33-year-old challenger – who has lost only once in 28 fights with only one defeat – either live or on television.

However, the Coatbridge fighter is supremely confident of getting the win which will leave him free for a showdown with Londoner Kevin Mitchell in the summer.

“I haven’t watched him at all,” said Burns.

“We know he is a good boxer and has a big right hand, obviously, with 19 knockouts from 28 fights.

“He is also a former world champion who is not afraid to travel, he has fought in Japan and other places.

“So it is going to be a cracking fight but we are prepared for whatever he brings.

“Now it is about playing the waiting game. Once Friday (weigh-in) is over I can get on with it.

“I have always said the better the guy in front of me, the better I will perform, so it is just down to me now to produce the goods again.”

 

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=50337

IN DEPTH WITH RICKY BURNS

Ricky Burns: ‘I’m Fed Up With Training and Waiting. Let’s Get the Fight On!’

With two world titles already on his CV, Coatbridge quiet man Ricky Burns is now primely placed to reap the material rewards of his labours.

But with a lucrative summer showdown against London rival Kevin Mitchell beckoning, and possible unification openings thereafter, this most unassuming of champions stresses to boxing writer Glynn Evans that there can be no room for complacency when he faces off with top grade Namibian Paulus Moses at Braehead Arena next Saturday.

The Scot makes the opening defence of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) World Lightweight crown live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456/Virgin Ch. 546) from 7.30pm. Join at www.boxnation.tv

How do you reflect on your great win over Michael Katsidis for the WBO interim lightweight crown at Wembley last November? Do you agree it was the finest performance of your career?

It was definitely a good performance. Again, everybody had me wrote off beforehand and, again, I proved everybody wrong. It was definitely a tougher fight than when I won my (WBO) superfeather belt against Roman Martinez. Michael was exactly what we trained for; a tough, tough man and you could see at the end when I was interviewed how swollen my jaw was.

That said, it appeared a lot tougher when I watched the tape back than it had actually appeared when I was fighting the fight. I pretty much knew from the first round that I had the beating of him. The tactics were to stay on the jab and, when inevitably there were times when he managed to close the distance, to keep my hands up, counter, then use my legs to get me out of bother. It all worked perfectly. Again, I promise, there’s a lot more still to come.

It was your first championship start up at 135lbs. What difference did the added weight make during camp and on fight night?

I’d not have weighed much more inside the ring than I did when I boiled down to super-feather but it allowed training to go far more comfortably. I could train for tactics and technique not just to shed pounds. Straining to make weight definitely takes something out of you in the ring. I still looked massive for a lightweight.

Lightweight has been my natural weight for a lot longer than you’d realise. To be honest, I was surprised how long I continued at superfeather when I was fighting at Commonwealth level. We discussed lightweight a year before I won the super-feather world title. Every time it was ‘just one more fight’. However, the struggle I had making 130 for the Nicky Cook fight was absolutely ridiculous. Of course, it’s hard to walk away when you hold a world title but I knew after that it was definitely time to move up. When the opportunity to contest the ‘interim’ title at lightweight was offered, I jumped at it. A lifeline!

Your first defence against Paulus Moses on Saturday (10th) will be your first start in Scotland for 12 months. Given your last two showings at home were comparatively flat title defences over Andreas Evensen and Joseph Laryea, do you feel you owe Scottish fans a spectacular performance?

Obviously I’ll be hoping to look good for the home fans but you know I don’t ever like to talk myself up and put added pressure on myself. Getting the win is the be all and end all, for me. I understand there’s under 400 tickets left so we’re expecting a sell out. What I can say is that if I perform as well as I have been in sparring, I guarantee the fans will have a good night.

The South African is a former WBA champion who has only lost once in 29 pro fights and has 19 knockout wins on his slate. Yet you’ve accepted him as a voluntary challenger. Weren’t you tempted to take something a little less taxing?

No, I’ve always said since I started boxing at 12 that I’ll fight anyone at all. The only way to be the best, and to be considered the best by others, is to fight and beat the best around. This is a proper world title fight.

How has your preparation gone?

I’ll have had 10 or 11 weeks and six of that will have been hard sparring. There’s been a really good vibe in the gym. I’ve done a lot of rounds with Paul Appleby who’s got a big fight himself the same night (against Ireland’s Stephen Ormond) and I’ve also had Tommy Coyle, Tyrone Nurse, Patrick Liam Walsh up here before finishing off with Bradley Saunders last week. You get to a stage were you’re just fed up with training and waiting. You just want to get the fight on. That’s where I’m at.

What do you know of the 33 year old challenger?

I’m never one for studying tapes of my opponent. What happens on the night, happens. A fight’s a fight and I’ve always been good at sussing things out once we get started.

But Paulus’s record speaks for itself so I know he’s likely to give me a very good fight. He’s a former world champion, proven at very top class for quite a while and his only defeat (a sixth round knockout in the second defence of his WBA crown) was to Venezuela’s Miguel Acosta who is also a great fighter.

I’ve heard Moses is a good boxer who has a good jab but so have I. Obviously, from his record, he can bang – we’ve heard with the right hand – but I’ve been in with bangers before. Martinez and Katsidis were said to be bangers but I’ve always shown I can take a shot.

I think the first few rounds could be the key but I’m ready for anything and I’ll take each round as it comes.

Your very best performances have come as an underdog against Martinez and Katsidis yet you enter this as a 5-1 on favourite. Any chance you could be overlooking Moses in favour of the mooted mandatory summer showdown with Kevin Mitchell?

None at all. If I don’t win here, the Kevin Mitchell fight definitely isn’t going to happen. I’ve trained extremely hard for 12 rounds and I’m expecting a very tough fight. I have to get this one out of the way.

People need to realise, I just love fighting and the better the opponent, the more I love it. Most true, diehard boxing fans are aware exactly how big a challenge Paulus Moses represents. I’ve always maintained that only the very top opponents will bring out the very best in me and this is a perfect fight for me to prove that.

Prediction?

Ricky Burns wins a great fight; points if need be, knockout’s a bonus!

This is your first fight of 2012. What do you hope to have achieved by the end of the year?

I’m looking no further than this fight but obviously if I do get through it, the Kevin Mitchell fight should be straightforward to make as we’re both with Frank Warren. Kevin boxed very well last month so that could be a very tough fight in the summer. We’re the two best lightweights in the country and it’s the one most want to see.

You’ve been world champion for 18 months now. How are you growing into that status? You’re naturally shy. Are the commitments a bonus or a distraction?

I’m still doing my shift at the local sports store on the weekend. It breaks up my training nicely and all the staff and customers are ‘brand new’. That keeps me grounded.

I do whatever’s needed publicity wise then, a fortnight before a fight I completely lock myself away and I think people appreciate the need for that.

Otherwise, I try to go to as many functions and charity bashes as I can. It’s no big deal to me but often means a lot to others. My attitude’s the same it always was. I sort of enjoy the attention but I get embarrassed, really don’t see what all the fuss is about. After a fight, I do try to lock myself away for a couple of weeks to let the commotion die down.

You’re still only 28 but have been a pro for nearly 11 years now. How long do you intend continuing for and what are your remaining ambitions? Breaking America? Unification?

A boxing ring is a boxing ring and, if I keep winning, sure, I’d go to the States, particularly for unification. That would be exciting, an adventure.

I really, really love fighting so much. I’ve a good defence and, as long as I’m not getting hurt, I tell (trainer) Billy Nelson I’m going to continue until I’ve had 100 fights! Others think I’m nuts but, really, it’s all I want to do.

THE WBO LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD

RICKY BURNS v PAULUS MOSES

SATURDAY 10th MARCH, 2012

BRAEHEAD ARENA, GLASGOW

***LIVE ON BOXNATION (SKY CH. 456/VIRGIN CH. 546)***

 

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=31008&more=1

 

Billy Nelson, the trainer for WBO lightweight interim champion Ricky Burns (33-2, 9 KO’s), sees Burns stopping former WBA World lightweight champion Paulus Moses (28-1, 19 KO’s) in their big fight on March 10th at the Braehead Arena in Glascow, Scotland.

 Burns, 28, is an unlikely person to be knocking out a tough fighter like Moses. Burns is going to have problems enough just trying to beat Moses, let alone knock him out like Nelson is predicting.

Nelson told the heraldscotland.com “Moses is a very good fighter. His style is completely different to [Michael] Katsidis, but world class fighters have the ability to adapt and I expect Ricky to stop him.”

So the light hitting Burns is going to stop a hard hitter like Moses, eh?

Is Nelson serious about that or what? Burns hasn’t had what you’d call genuine knockout since he stopped Michael Gomez in the 7th round in March 2009. I know Burns got a 1st round knockout credit for his fight with Nicky Cook last year in July when Cook’s back seized up on him in the first seconds of the fight in what turned out to be one of the funniest and worst match-ups I’ve ever seen before.

But Burns is hardly a knockout puncher and if he tries to punch with Moses, he’s going to be playing directly into his hands and will be making it too easy for him to stop Burns and take his precision interim strap. I figure Moses will win anyway by knockout but Burns will make it all the easier if he tries to follow Nelson’s instructions by shooting for a knockout over Moses.

I think Burns and Nelson haven’t see Moses fight and don’t realize what a great left hook and jab this guy has got. Moses can really punch and has got excellent hand speed and size. Moses, 5’8”, isn’t as tall as the 5’10” Burns but he’s got a 2 ½” reach advantage over the Scottish Burns, so he might as well be the taller man.

 

By Scott Gilfoid:

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/01/burnss-trainer-expects-knockout-victory-for-burns-over-moses-on-310/

Ricky Burns is enjoying his last week of regular living before he gets down to preparing seriously for his interim WBO lightweight battle against Paulus Moses at the Braehead Arena on March 10.

The 28-year-old champion from Coatbridge is already in training for the visit of the Namibian, who has lost only once in 29 fights.

However, he will move into overdrive next week when he starts looking at the scales with the nine stone nine pounds limit in mind, although he admits it will not be quite as difficult as it used to be when he was a super-featherweight.

“The hard dieting will start next week,” said Burns.

“At the moment I have a wee bit of leeway and if I want something I can have it.

“But I start pushing it seven weeks before the fight.

“I started training just after the New Year so we are in full training, two and three times a day.

“But the countdown is on to the weigh-in and then it’s time to get on with the job.

“No matter what weight you have to make it is always hard. But again, making nine stone nine is a lot easier than having to boil down to nine stone four.

“I am much happier now that I have moved up a weight.”

While not taking victory for granted, Burns wants to take on Essex fighter Kevin Mitchell in the summer.

Mitchell’s only defeat in 33 fights to date was to Michael Katsidis at Upton Park, London, in May 2010, whom the Scotsman beat at Wembley in November last year to take the title from the Australian.

“Obviously I have to get past Paulus Moses first or that (Mitchell) fight is not going to happen,” said Burns.

“I know Kevin is fighting in February and as long as the two of us come through then we can sit down and talk about it.

“Both of us are promoted by Frank Warren so it is an easy fight for us to make.

“I would say the two of us are the best lightweights in Britain just now so it is a fight that I would really want.

“When I beat Michael Katsidis he (Mitchell) was saying he would love the chance to fight me.

“I would prefer it to be up here.

“Hopefully we can show them that we can get Braehead sold out and get the fans behind me.

“But for now, I just need to concentrate on my next fight.”

Ricky Burns has targeted Kevin Mitchell for a summertime all-British battle – and wants it to be in Scotland.

The interim WBO lightweight champion will face Namibia’s Paulus Moses at the Braehead Arena on March 10.

Burns, from Coatbridge, is hoping fight fans pack out the venue on the outskirts of Glasgow to encourage promoter Frank Warren to bring Essex boy Mitchell north of the border for what would be a classic Scotland versus England encounter.

Mitchell’s only defeat in 33 fights to date was to Michael Katsidis at Upton Park, London, in May 2010, whom Burns beat at Wembley in November last year to take the title from the Australian.

Burns, 28, speaking at the Braehead Arena, said: “Obviously I have to get past Paulus Moses first or that (Mitchell) fight is not going to happen.

“I know Kevin is fighting in February and as long as the two of us come through then we can sit down and talk about it.

“Both of us are promoted by Frank Warren so it is an easy fight for us to make.

“I would say the two of us are the best lightweights in Britain just now so it is a fight that I would really want.

“When I beat Michael Katsidis he (Mitchell) was saying he would love the chance to fight me.

“They are talking about the venue being down in London or up here.

“I was on the same bill when Michael Katsidis beat him down at West Ham’s football ground.

“I know that was the venue that was mentioned if I was to fight him in the summer.

“I would prefer it to be up here.

“Hopefully we can show them that we can get Braehead sold out and get the fans behind me.

“But for now, I just need to concentrate on my next fight.”

Burns will enjoy one last week of regular living before the hard work starts – albeit it will not be quite as difficult to make the weight now that he has moved up to the nine stone nine pounds division.

“The hard dieting will start next week,” he said.

“At the moment I have a wee bit of leeway and if I want something I can have it.

“But I start pushing it seven weeks before the fight.

“I started training just after the New Year so we are in full training, two and three times a day.

“But the countdown is on to the weigh-in and then it’s time to get on with the job.

“No matter what weight you have to make it is always hard.

“But again, making nine stone nine is a lot easier than having to boil down to nine stone four.

“I am much happier now that I have moved up a weight.”

Burns will not watch any DVDs of Moses, preferring to let the challenger worry about him.

“I can only go with his record which makes him dangerous,” he said.

“One loss in 29 fights and 19 knockouts, that shows he is a big puncher.

“But I have always said whatever happens on the night is going to happen.

“I can adapt to people’s styles so I’m sure when I get in the ring, I will know what to do to win.

“If I get the chance to knock him out I will do it.”

Burns, though, will be informed by trainer Billy Nelson as to what to expect on the night.

“I have been studying DVDs every night and Moses is a very good fighter,” said Nelson.

“He has a different style to Katsidis but world class fighters have the ability to adapt to different styles.

“I expect Ricky to stop this guy.

“Once that fight is done, there is the blockbuster with Kevin Mitchell and then he will get it as well.”

 

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=48709

El campeón mundial ligero interino de la OrganizaciónMundialde Boxeo (OMB), el escocés Ricky Burns (33-2, 9 KOs), realizará la primera exposición de su corona frente al ex monarca mundial ligero de la Asociación Mundial de Boxeo (AMB), el namibio Paulus Moses (28-1, 19 KOs), en lo que será el combate estelar de una velada que se desarrollará el próximo 10 de marzo en el Braehead Arena de Glasgow, Escocia.

 Burns, quien ya había reinado entre los superpluma entre septiembre de 2010 y agosto de 2011 -que abandonó el cetro-, viene de conquistar su actual cinturón al derrotar a otro ex campeón, el australiano Michael Katsidis, en decisión unánime, el pasado 5 de noviembre en Wembley, Londres, Inglaterra.

 En tanto Moses, que reinó enla AMBentre enero de 2009 y el 29 de mayo de 2010 -cuando el venezolano Miguel “Aguacerito” Acosta lo detuvo en cinco asaltos-, llega tras tres éxitos en fila. En su última actuación, superó también en forma unánime al brasileño Sidney Siqueira, el 24 de septiembre en Windhoek, Namibia.

 

http://www.notifight.com/artman2/publish/Reporte_7/Burns_expone_ante_Moses_10_3_en_Escocia.php

Ricky Burns will make his first defence of the interim WBO lightweight title against Paulus Moses on 10 March.

The 33-year-old Namibian won the WBA title two years ago in Japan but lost it after one successful defence.

Moses, known as ‘The Hitman’, has only been stopped once in 29 fights and has won 19 bouts by knockout.

The fight has been moved back to the Braehead Arena due to television commitments after promoters had announced a switch to the Kelvin Hall.

Burns’s manager Alex Morrison believes Moses will provide a “stiff test” for his Burns.

“He’s a bit of a knockout specialist,” Morrison told BBC Scotland.

“And you don’t go to Japan and a win a world title without having something about you.”

Moses (right) has only been stopped once in 29 fights

Burns became WBO super-featherweight champion after a thrilling win over Rocky Martinez in 2010.

After three defences of the title, ‘The Rickster’ moved up to lightweight and beat Michael Katsidis at Wembley last November to become interim lightweight champion.

If, as expected, Juan Manuel Marquez vacates his WBO title at the same weight, Burns could enter the ring against Moses as the full champion.

By Phil Goodlad
BBC Scotland

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/boxing/16534019.stm