Burnett tears oblique muscle in last fight
bantamweight world titlist Ryan Burnett has been diagnosed with a torn oblique muscle on his right side following his fifth round TKO loss to Filipino Nonito Donaire
The injury cost Burnett his 118-pound - for your support and kind messages,” Burnett wrote on social media.
“I want to thank Nonito Donaire for sharing the ring with me, and for being a man of such great character, and I wish him all the best for the remainder of the
- tion bantamweight crown holder said.
“I am absolutely gutted not to be World Champion. This scenario was totally out of my control, but I understand,” he added. “Injury is the - pleted, and I was diagnosed that I have
oblique, where a portion of the muscle has also detached from the bone where it inserts, “Burnett disclosed.
Ireland, who was making his third title defense, was the No. 1 seed in the eight-
of Las Vegas, for the right to advance to Donaire, who has won world titles in four weight classes, dropped down
upset when Burnett could not continue because of the injury.
The Donaire- Burnett fight was highly competitive and exciting until late in the fourth round when the erstwhile-unbeaten Irish suffered the injury, while throwing and missing a right hand. He was in so much pain that he knelt in the process that was ruled took a knockdown.
was barely able to move as Donaire blasted him with heavy punches. Adam Booth, Burnett’s trainer, eventually
position to continue.
“This is not a career ending injury, but is one that will require intensive treatment and rehabilitation,” Burnett wrote. “I will pick myself up, make myself strong again, and get back to where I believe I belong, as Champion of The World.”
to Burnett, writing on social media that he wanted to “send prayers of healing to Ryan Burnett and thank him for sharing the ring with me. I know he’ll heal up and be back in the ring soon!”