I lived dream, says Burnett after retiring
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SPORTING LIVES AND TIMES PAGE 44
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dived over for the opening score in the third minute.
McFarland’s men had led 17-0 after 19 minutes, thanks to Marshall and Burns’ tries which were both converted by Cooney who also added a penalty but, from there, nothing really clicked for the home side.
Marshall’s yellow card, at the end of the first half, hardly helped and it took two second half penalties from Cooney to keep Ulster ahead and with some space between themselves and the Blues on the scoreboard.
On the injury front, Ulster lost centre James Hume to an early leg issue which required him to be cared off the field early on.
FORMER world bantamweight champion Ryan Burnett has announced his immediate retirement from boxing because of injuries.
The north Belfast fighter (below) defeated Lee Haskins by unanimous decision in June 2017 to claim the IBF crown at 118lb and went on to unify the division later that year by outpointing WBA champion Zhanat Zhakiyanov.
However, Burnett suffered his first professional defeat when a back injury forced him to retire on his stool after four rounds in his World Boxing Super Series quarter-final against Nonito Donaire last year.
While he returned to winning ways against the unheralded Jelbirt Gomera in May this year, Burnett has decided to walk away from the sport aged only 27 with a record of 20 wins and only one loss.
He said: “Although my retirement is forced through injuries, I carry a heart full of satisfaction and gratitude. I have achieved my childhood dream and secured my future health, which is something no amount of money or titles can provide.”