Stickup in Scotland: Beltran endures controversial Split Draw against Burns
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 08 Sep 2013
The longtime sparring partner of Manny Pacquiao, Ray Beltran (28-6-1) suffered the same fate of the Filipino star- as another victim of dubious judging. This after Beltran figured in a very controversial and debatable Split Draw fight when he challenged WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns.
The 32 year old Mexican broke his opponent?s jaw courtesy of a left hook that landed plenty Saturday night in Burns? home country of Scotland in the city of Glasgow. The same punch also sent Burns down in the canvass in the 8th, the only knockdown in the fight and yet Beltran only managed to salvage a Split Draw with scores of 115-113, 112-115 and 114-114 in all three judges at ringside.
Burns took control of the first three rounds until Beltran found his mark in the 4th and stunned Burns. Beltran continued to assault the Scot champion with his left hook in the 5th which Burns absorbed continuously.
The champion then took control back of rounds 6 and 7, avoiding Beltran?s left in these two rounds. And then the gritty Mexican challenger dropped him in round 8 that Burns was lucky to have survived.
Beltran pressed the action again in rounds 9 and 10 forcing Burns to clinch and hold to avoid taking extra punishment in the fight. A close 12th ensued between the two fighters and the fight went to the score cards which revealed the controversial outcome.
Many fans and followers of the sport had Beltran winning in their own tally and the result from Glasgow was a surprise to them.
Beltran served as Pacquiao?s spar mate against Bradley and he witnessed when Pacquiao was robbed in that fight in Las Vegas last year and that saddened him. Imagine what he feels now as he now shares the same boat with Pacquiao - as victims of disputable decisions. He expressed disappointment after the fight and rightfully so.
The 32 year old finally emerged as legitimate title contender after fourteen years in the business with a gritty winning performance in his last three fights. His days as being labeled as a mere spar mate for Pacquiao would have ended tonight in what is yet another great showing for him- but it did not.
?I think I did everything I had to do to get the win. It?s politics. It?s disrespectful for the fighters, for the fans. They just play with the business,? Beltran said in in the post-fight interview.
You cannot blame Ray Beltran for his reaction. The fruit of his life?s work and an opportunity for a career-altering triumph was just stolen from him in Scotland.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and on Twitter @Freemazon910.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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