RYAN Burnett had expected his world-title fight with Lee Haskins to be stopped in the opening rounds because of the cuts suffered by each fighter in the second.
An accidental clash of heads opened significant wounds over both fighters’ right eyes – new IBF bantamweight champion Burnett’s bled heavily – and his trainer Adam Booth responded by telling him he only had two more rounds to fulfil his dream.
The 25-year-old then continued the exceptional performance he had threatened from the off, outclassing the proven champion at Belfast’s Odyssey Arena and potentially ending the underrated Haskins’ career at world level.
Burnett is unlikely to return until October or November to allow his cut to properly heal. He said: “This was the first time I’d ever experienced that, but me and Adam have gone over this situation before.
“When it happened, it was as if it’s happened before; I knew exactly how to deal with it. That’s why I didn’t pay no attention to it, even when the blood was in my eyes and I couldn’t see. It didn’t faze me at all.
“We knew my speed would give me a bit of an advantage. That was something we’d worked on in camp.
“It’s something special. I’m in a position now where I can go on and give myself and my family a good life if I keep doing what I’m doing, and at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about.
“I haven’t been home in two-and-a-half months. I just want to go home to my family. We’re in a great position now: we can make these good fights, and it’s all there for me. I turned 25 two weeks ago. I’ve still got so much to learn.”
Booth had said: “I told Ryan after the [cuts in the] second round ‘This fight’s not going 12 rounds, you’re both cut too badly, win every moment of the next two rounds because it’s going to go to a technical decision’.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here