Burnett Grabs IBF Bantamweight Title

Last night, at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Ryan Burnett fulfilled a promise he made to his father, when he was a child, by becoming a world champion.

In front of his home fans, Burnett went head-to-head with the reigning IBF world bantamweight title Lee Haskins and put in a boxing display that saw him grab the title on a points decision.

Ahead of the first bell it looked as if it was a fight that could go either way with the experienced Haskins making a third defence of his world title belt against a fighter who had only, prior to this bout, had sixteen fights.

But from the sound of the first bell it was to be Burnett that was to take charge.

The challenger edged the early rounds with his quick punching and Haskins had no response to Burnett?s powerful right hand.

A clash of heads, in round two, saw both fighters cut and the fight started to swing towards Burnett big-time in the sixth when he had Haskins down on the canvas.

Haskins appeared to be having trouble with his right arm but gamely soldiered on, hoping to get his way back into the fight.

But if there was any doubt that Burnett was to be the victor that was surely ended when Haskins hit the canvas again in the eleventh round.

Burnett, at the sound of the final bell, knew he?d won the title although the split decision verdict was somewhat mystifying.

After the verdict had been announced, Burnett had this to say to the media,

‘I always knew I would be a world champion although I had to dig deep.

‘I promised everyone that this belt would stay in Belfast and it has.

‘Haskins made me work but I did it and it is my dream – I’m the champion of the world.’

For Burnett, the world is now his oyster as the saying goes, for Haskins it?s back to the drawing board.