Today at 4:00 p.m. ET boxing's return to network television continues when lightweights Omar Figueroa (24-0-1, 18 KO) takes on Ricky Burns (37-4-1, 11 KO) on CBS in a junior welterweight bout that can be live streamed free by clicking this link.
Figueroa is not a mainstream hit just yet, but hardcore fans know him as a high-volume fighter who shone in a war with Nihito Arakawa in 2013 that was a Fight of the Year candidate. Figueroa is unbeaten, but hasn't fought elite competition yet in his career.
Burns, on the other hand, is more experienced in big fights. He doesn't pack much power, but he's defeated Michael Kastidis and Roman Martinez, fought Raymundo Beltran to a draw, and been in the ring with the likes of Terence Crawford.
Figueroa has age on his side, and reach. Despite being three inches shorter than Burns, Figueroa possesses a three-inch reach advantage on his opponent. That doesn't scare Burns though, who says sparring with big opponents in his training camp has him ready for stepping up above his normal weight.
"We know Omar likes to get involved in a fight so I won't have to go looking for him. A couple of my sparring partners have been a lot heavier than me and they've attempted to push me back in every session. We've also mixed up the orthodox and lefty work accordingly," Burns said. "There's been good variety to my sparring here in Texas and I'm confident going into this fight."
Prediction: Ricky Burns def. Omar Figueroa by majority decision.
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