Controversial draw between WBO lightweight titlist Ricky Burns and Raymundo Beltran.

On this rainy afternoon, I figured, what better way to spend it than by watching a stream of WBO lightweight titlist Ricky Burns (37-2), defending his crown against Mexico’s Raymundo Beltran (28-7)? Burns is, for the most part, considered the number one ranked lightweight (135 lbs.) on the planet.

After twelve rounds, I was thinking, this was a pretty good fight. A few seconds later, when the scorecards were read, the ringside commentator said:

“Sometimes I really don’t like this business.”

I had Beltran comfortably winning seven rounds, one of those rounds included a knockdown, making it a 10-8 round. I gave Burns five rounds, and those were some close-rounds that could have gone to Beltran easily. I had it 115-112 for Beltran but some of the media had it more one-sided in Beltran’s favor.

Burns got his jaw dislocated during the fight, and it’s amazing how he kept fighting on. It should have been a good story — the underdog beats the number one boxer in the division, the champion shows incredible heart by fighting with a serious injury, we get a big knockdown and a good fight. But the judges, controversially scored the fight — 115-112 for Burns, 115-113 for Beltran, and a 114-114, making it a draw. Burns walked away with his WBO title, but this was ridiculous. I can’t make sense out of 115-112 or 114-114 scorecards.

Burns started well enough, trying to outbox Beltran and succeeding in the first and third frame. Beltran then started pressuring Burns, pushing him against the ropes, landing left hooks to the body and head. Burns would try to counter, clinch and try to get away from Beltran but the Mexican challenger was just too aggressive. The 8th round was a big one for Beltran — he landed a huge left hook that sent Burns crashing down to the canvas. Burns fought defensively for the rest of that round, making it a clear 10-8 round for the challenger. Burns, with a dislocated jaw, fought valiantly and with a lot of heart for the remainder of the fight.

While I thought Burns lost the 11th frame, Burns fought with guts, and landed some uppercuts that probably looked better than they actually were. The 12th frame, was a slower-one, but Burns probably did enough to steal that last round.

What he didn’t do, was enough to steal the whole dang fight. Even the commentators, who were clearly pro-Burns, found the decision to be questionable.

It’s irritating as a fan; it’s worse for Beltran. Bad Left Hook’s Scott Christ says it best:

14 year career, battled his way into contention, went on the road, by all rights won the fight, comes home with nothing. #boxing!

— Scott (@scottchristBLH) September 7, 2013