THE LAST WORD
Burroughs-Tsargush IV: It could happen in Vegas
It was the second time this year that Burroughs has called out three-time World champion Denis Tsargush of Russia in a post- match interview. He said during April’s World Cup in Los Angeles that he was
T
ready to wrestle Tsargush again. So now the stage is set for the possibility of Burroughs-
Tsargush IV on the final day of the World Championships on Sept. 12 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. The Burroughs-Tsargush rivalry in freestyle wrestling at 74
kg/163 lbs. has become one of the best in international wrestling. Tsargush was already a two-time World champion when the relatively unknown Burroughs burst onto the international scene at the 2011 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. Burroughs stepped onto the mat for the second round and notched a stunning 1-3, 1-0, 2-1 victory over Tsargush. Burroughs went on to win his first World title that evening. A year later, Burroughs and Tsargush met again in the semifi-
nals of the Olympic Games in London, England. In what ended up being an epic battle, Burroughs emerged
with a hard-fought 3-1, 0-2, 2-1 win. Burroughs showed amazing composure in that match, and
went on to win Olympic gold. Tsargush, along with Russia’s coaches, were visibly angered
by the loss and stormed away from the mat in frustration. A year later, Russia entered a different wrestler at the 2013
World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. The U.S. almost had a different entry at 74 kilos as well after Burroughs suffered a broken ankle just a month before the
sargush, I want you baby! The words of Jordan Burroughs echoed throughout the arena during a post-match interview after he won June’s U.S. World Team Trials in Madison, Wis.
Worlds. Burroughs somehow was able to
make it back onto the mat and turned in a spectacular performance to earn his second World title in 2013. The stage for Burroughs-Tsargush
Craig Sesker
III was set when the brackets were released for the 2014 World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. But it nearly didn’t happen. Burroughs injured his knee early in his first-round match of
the 2014 World Championships. And it didn’t look good. At all. Burroughs called for injury time and walked off the mat. He
came back to edge a surprisingly tough opponent, Augusto Midana of Guinea Bisau, by a 4-3 score. Burroughs came right back, with his left leg heavily wrapped,
to win his next two bouts to reach the semifinals. Cleary not 100 percent physically, Burroughs dropped a 9-2 decision to Tsargush in the semifinals. Tsargush went on to win his third World title. Burroughs rebounded to earn a bronze medal. Burroughs is now 105-2 in his incredible international career,
and he’s very eager to avenge loss No. 2. “It was difficult to experience that loss to Tsargush, especially
being the ferocious competitor I am,” Burroughs said. “Tsargush was hungry. Between the two of us, we’ve been the best in the World over the last six years. From 2009-14, he and I have been the only champions at this weight class. “He’s tough and he’s a competitor, and he’s a champion. He
really wants to win and I really want to win. When we both get out on the mat, somebody has to lose unfortunately. I’m looking forward to seeing him again. I can’t wait.”
42 USA Wrestler
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