Ryan Burnett fought over half his World Title Unification with a serious injury

Information has come to light today that makes Ryan Burnett‘s world title unification win at the weekend all the more impressive.

The Belfast bantam added the WBA belt to his IBF strap on Saturday night at the SSE Odyssey Arena when he outpointed Zhanat Zhakiyanov over twelve gruelling rounds.

Burnett [18(9)-0] claimed a unanimous decision win, and did so fighting for over half the contest with a serious injury.

Early on in the sixth round Burnett broke from a clinch with the Kazakh and seemingly pawed at his own shoulder, and it is now known that the Antrim Road 25 year old had most likely ruptured a ligament in his neck.

The injury however didn’t stop Burnett from coming on strong and finishing the fight the stronger against the relentless Asian, outworking and outmuscling him down the stretch.

Post-fight interviews were cut short following the clash and Burnett was brought to hospital following the win after he complained of pains in his ear and neck.

Under trainer Adam Booth’s insistence, a conscious Burnett was stretchered from the arena. The fighter was given the all-clear and released mere hours later with a clean bill of health for his head – but a painful prognosis for his neck.

Booth revealed the injury in an interview with IFL TV today.

Burnett will now take some time out of the ring to recover, and promoter Eddie Hearn has spoken of a return to the ring in March or April of 2018.

Watch Ryan Burnett and Adam Booth speak to IFL TV below: