By Alexey Sukachev
Looks like a newly-crowned Scottish WBO super featherweight champion Ricky Burns (29-2, 7 KOs) will have a soft first threat for his regalia. According to several Polish sources, Burns, who has recently come out as winner of a memorable war with previously undefeated titlist Roman “Rocky” Martinez on September 4, faces aging Polish lightweight Maciej “Matt” Zegan (42-6-2, 21 KOs) three months after on Dec. 4 in London as a part of a huge tournament, pre-planned by British top promoter Frank Warren. The fight will reportedly be Burns’ initial title defense; Zegan being presently ranked #3 by the WBO at lightweight limit.
The Polish veteran was once best known for his spirited effort against long-time WBO champion Artur Grigoryan in early 2003, when he dropped a close and somewhat controversial majority decision while fighting at champion’s backyard. Since then “Z-Gun” compiled a streak of victories over sub-par opposition but then saw his career almost ruined after three consecutive defeats (a shutout vs. Nate Campbell in the IBF eliminator, upset loss to little-known 16-13 Noel Cortez and a TKO defeat from Damian Fuller). Zegan came back in November 2008 with an entertaining eight-round decision over Dariusz Snarski to capture a vacant Baltic Boxing Union belt in what was his probably biggest win in several years. It got worse for Zegan after that. He took a year off only to be defeated by fellow compatriot Krzysztof Cieslak in his comeback on Oct. 24, 2009, and then had a hard time putting his career back on track.
