Burns vs Indongo: Can Ricky Burns join the list of British fighters to have unified their division?
Sunday 16 April 2017 00:57, UK
Ricky Burns will fight Julius Indongo for the chance to add the Namibian's IBF title to his WBA super lightweight crown.
'Rickster' will have home advantage in Glasgow on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports, as he looks to etch his name in history alongside other British fighters who have successfully unified their respective divisions.
We look back at how these fighters did it...
Live Fight Night
Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield - November 13, 1999
After their disputed draw nine months earlier, WBC champion Lennox Lewis re-matched WBA and IBF title holder Evander Holyfield to settle the score for heavyweight supremacy.
Lewis seized control from the off, dealing with Holyfield's inside work to win the opening sessions. Holyfield then came into the fight during the middle rounds and seemed to be taking control as the pair went toe-to-toe in the seventh.
However, Lewis seized the initiative at the back end of the fight and claimed the victory on the cards 115-113, 116-112 and 117-111 to become unified champion of the glamorous division.
Joe Calzaghe vs Jeff Lacy- March 4, 2006
Manchester hosted two undefeated super middleweight world champions as WBO holder Joe Calzaghe faced IBF king Jeff Lacy in a unification bout to decide the best 168lbs fighter in the world.
In what was expected to be an extremely close fight given the American's reputation as the 'new Mike Tyson,' Calzaghe dominated from start to finish to win unanimously 119-105, 119-107 and 119-107.
The Welshman, (who relinquished the IBF title after one defence of that belt) would go on to unify the division again a year later after defeating Mikkel Kessler in front of 50,000 people in Cardiff to add the 'Viking Warrior's' WBC and WBA straps to his WBO belt.
David Haye vs Enzo Maccarinelli - March 8, 2008
In what was billed as an all British unification bout for the ages, David Haye knocked out Enzo Maccarinelli inside two rounds to become the undisputed king of the cruiserweight division.
After a cagey opening round, Haye found his range in the second to land his famous 'Hayemaker', before unloading a barrage of punches as the Welshman was backed into the corner.
Maccarinelli did well to make it to his feet, but the referee correctly deemed him unable to continue as Haye added the WBO version of the 14st 4lbs belt to his WBA and WBC titles.
Amir Khan vs Zab Judah - July 23, 2011
WBA super-lightweight world champion Amir Khan knocked out Zab Judah inside five rounds to rip the IBF title from the veteran and unify the division at the age of just 24.
The Las Vegas bout, billed as 'Attack & Conquer' was dominated by the Brit from start to finish as Khan continually beat Judah to the punch before unleashing a crunching body shot to end the contest.
The 140lbs decision was known as 'light-welterweight' back then, but no matter what you call it, this is exactly what Burns and Indongo are going for on Saturday night.
Burns Night Again
Carl Froch vs Mikkel Kessler - May 25, 2013
Carl Froch gained sweet revenge over Mikkel Kessler and overturned his first professional defeat to add the WBA 'regular' super middleweight title to his IBF belt.
'The Cobra' started the quicker to put the early rounds in the bank before Kessler came back in the middle rounds in a barn-burner of a contest at London's O2.
However, Froch found his second wind to pull away during the championship rounds and win via unanimous decision 118-10, 116-12 and 115-113 on the judges' scorecards.
Carl Frampton vs Scott Quigg - February 27, 2016
IBF world champion Carl Frampton won the battle of the super-bantamweights and unify the division at the Manchester Arena when he defeated WBA titleholder Scott Quigg over 12 rounds.
'The Jackal' won the first half of the fight with ease, out-working his opponent in a contest which was not living up to the pre-fight hyperbole.
The contest caught fire during the last four rounds though as Quigg, realising he was behind on the scorecards went for broke despite breaking his jaw during the fight. The late rally was not enough for the Mancunian as Frampton was given the victory by split decision.
Watch Ricky Burns vs Julius Indongo from the SSE Hydro, Glasgow, on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports 2 from 7.30pm.
