Burns beaten by Dejan Zlaticanin on a split decision
Ricky Burns (36-4-1, 11 KO’s) failed to recover from a first-minute knockdown as he lost a 12 round split decision to Dejan Zlaticanin (19-0, 13 KO’s) on Friday night at the Braehead Arena, in Glasgow, Scotland.
Burns finished the bout strongly but the earlier knockdown proved to be the difference on the scorecards. The American and Montenegro judges both had it scored 115-113 for Zlaticanin, whereas the British judge John Keane scored it 115-113 for Burns.
Zlaticanin, who became a father earlier in the day, started like a man possessed and caught Burns with a shot to the chin inside the first 20 seconds, a partisan home crowd stunned into silence.
Burns made it back up by the count of 7, but he continued to take big left hooks to the head. The Scotsman's jab was answered with flurries which kept him covered up on the ropes for extended periods as the hard-hitting Montenegrin seemingly built up a lead over the first half of the fight. However, he faded down the stretch and Burns began to fight back during the middle rounds. And that pattern continued until the end, with Burns pressing Zlaticanin back and his opponent waiting for rare chances to throw another long, looping left hand.
But the rally proved to be too late with two judges giving Zlaticanin the nod by two points, making it three fights without a win for the 31-year-old Burns whose future in the sport may now come into question.
With the win, Zlaticanin, 30, wins the vacant WBC International lightweight title and could lead to him getting a chance at a world title next.
Also on the card, Willie Limond (38-4, 10 KOs) scored two knockdowns and won a 12 round majority decision over Curtis Woodhouse (22-7, 13 KOs) in a clash for the Commonwealth and British light welterweight titles. Limond dropped Woodhouse in rounds 3 and 11. Scores were 116-111, 117-109, 113-113.
Other results on the card:
Stephen Simmons W Wadi Camacho TKO 10
Jon Slowey L Kris Hughes UD 10
Scott Cardle W Sylvain Chapelle PTS 8
David Brophy W Harry Matthews PTS 6
Michael Roberts W Michael Ramabeletsa PTS 6
Hugh Gray D William Warburton PTS 4
Callum Johnson W Nathan King PTS 4
Scott Allan W Brett Fidoe PTS 4
Ryan Smith W Kristian Laight PTS 4