David "Los Gatos" Rosenberg of BoxingScene.com reports that a deal has been reached for WBO super featherweight titlist Ricky Burns to travel to the United States on November 26 to face Adrien Broner. The fight will take place at the U.S. Bank Arena in Broner's hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Burns (32-2, 9 KO) won the belt on September 4, 2010, when he defeated Puerto Rico's Roman Martinez in a fairly big upset. He's defended three times against frankly mediocre competition, including a fight in July with Nicky Cook, where Cook was clearly in no shape to be in the ring and basically forfeited in 93 seconds.
Broner (21-0, 17 KO) has built a little buzz this year with his first two appearances on HBO. In March, he was on the good end of a debated decision over Daniel Ponce de Leon, and in June he blew out Jason Litzau in the first round. Skills-wise, Broner definitely has the goods, as he's fast, powerful, and is a strong counter-puncher. But he just turned 22 in July, and Burns will have a big experience edge on him, and as we saw against the smaller, slower, and less crafty Ponce de Leon against Broner, talent isn't everything.
Burns had been targeting another titlist in the division, Mzonke Fana, hoping to fight for the RING Magazine championship, which is vacant. But Fana has been inactive since September 1, 2010, and has nothing scheduled as of now, so that always seemed more pipe dream than anything.
Burns, 28, has never fought outside of the United Kingdom in his 10-year pro career.