HOMETOWN HERO
The right man wins despite astonishing judge’s error
Ryan Burnett thrills the Belfast crowd to become the new IBF bantam champ
RYAN BURNETT is the new IBF bantamweight champion after dominating Lee Haskins in Belfast’s SSE Arena. Even a bizarre 118-108 score from veteran judge Clark Sammartino, rendering the verdict a split decision, failed to dampen the night for Ryan. It later transpired that Mr Sammartino had filled out his card incorrectly and even asked a ringside photographer for help identifying the respective combatants.
Thankfully Dave Parris and Jerry Jakubco handed in identical 119107 scores that more accurately represented the outcome of Matchroom’s main event. Burnett’s speed of hand and foot proved too much for Haskins, who gave his all from first bell to last but found himself second best, round after round. Fears that young Burnett would freeze on his big night were swiftly allayed as he soaked up the wall of noise created by an enthusiastic crowd during the introductions.
Fighting with hands down, chest pumped out and oozing confidence, the 25-year-old boxed, moved and fought at all the right times to secure the title. After a tight opener, things quite literally opened up as both men emerged from a second-round head clash with unwanted lacerations. Burnett’s was worse but his right hand was landing with such frequency that it was Haskins having to work on an alternative strategy. Burnett bopped him with the jab early on as the champion set up his left hook to the body off the back of a southpaw lead.
‘I PROMISED EVERYONE IN BELFAST THAT THE TITLE WOULD STAY HERE’
Haskins was clearly losing the rounds and if that wasn’t bad enough, it got a whole lot worse in round six when a right hand dropped the Bristol man. Burnett repeatedly beat him to the punch and suddenly Haskins was visibly wobbling under the heat.
Fresher Burnett swept the next few rounds as well and Chris Sanigar in Haskins’ corner looked rightly concerned in between rounds. Haskins appeared unable to dent Burnett whatsoever, even if the Belfast boxer confessed that he had been hurt at points during the fight. By the 10th, Ryan suffered a cut and bruising on the left eye as well. Burnett’s trainer Adam Booth later commended Marcus Mcdonnell for the way he refereed the bout.
Struggling to stay competitive, Haskins was felled heavily in round 11 as a combination, ending in a left hook, knocked him down for the second time. The bell came at an opportune moment for the older man as he was on the verge of being stopped. Lee went for broke in the final session, seeking to turn it all around while battling a suspected arm injury.
“I was inexperienced but I stuck with it and that’s what champions do,” enthused Burnett. “I promised everyone in Belfast that the title would be staying here. I’m here to stay, mark my words.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn will look to return to the SSE around November time with little-known mandatory Emmanuel Rodriguez in the frame but WBA titlist Zhanat Zhakiyanov is the preferred unification option.
It was a good night for hard-working Belfast manager and promoter Mark Dunlop as two of his fighters enjoyed impressive wins. Paul Hyland Jnr starched usually-durable Adam
Dingsdale in the first round of a scheduled 10. Hyland Jnr started fast and never let his Kent opponent off the hook after scoring an early knockdown. The Lagmore man laid right in and used Dingsdale’s head as a speedball before a heavy fall to the canvas prompted Howard Foster’s intervention at 1-49 of the opener. Hyland Jr took home the vacant IBF Europe lightweight title.
“I’d trained hard and prepared for 12 tough rounds at full pace. I want to ➤
➤ fight for titles and I’ll take anyone on,” said Paul.
Dunlop’s other star, Lisburn’s James Tennyson, was made to work harder by Ryan Doyle but eventually prevailed. Doyle’s corner team retired their man at the end of the sixth round.
Tennyson warmed nicely into the bout, blocking Doyle’s hooks and establishing a solid jab. Doyle was happy to box off the ropes and did some good work in the third round. James boxed his way back into the fourth, however, and Doyle looked like he was feeling the strain at the end of the fifth. Referee Howard Foster was having a close look at Doyle midway through the sixth as the Manchester man sagged against the ropes with a visibly bloodied nose. Seconds later, Doyle’s team pulled him out before the seventh could begin. It was set for 10.
Cuba’s Mike Perez blasted away late sub Victor Biscak at just 29 seconds of round one. Time will tell as to whether the new slimline version of Perez can be a force at cruiserweight as his unbeaten Slovakian foe folded quickly after a swiping right hook. Biscak appeared to hurt his ankle in the fall and exited in
TIME WILL TELL AS TO WHETHER THE SLIMLINE PEREZ CAN BE A FORCE
a wheelchair. Optimistically set for six rounds, Hugh Russell Jnr refereed.
Spectacular knockout of the night went to Swindon’s Luke Watkins. “The Duke” took home the Irish cruiserweight title after a crunching left-right knocked grizzled campaigner Ian Tims out cold. Watkins had boxed within himself up until the stoppage when he unleashed the pinpoint finisher and stirred the crowd into action. Referee David Irving called it off immediately at 1-13 of the fourth (of 10) as “Timsey” lay stricken on the canvas.
Belfast’s Paddy Gallagher dispatched Paisley’s Craig Kelly in the third. Kelly was dropped in round two by a right hand and down again early in round three after a body shot. Kelly found himself on the canvas twice more from crunching torso assaults before Hugh Russell Jnr waved the scheduled eight-rounder off at 1-48.
Well-supported Coalisland southpaw Feargal Mccrory knocked out Paul Holt in the second round of their sixrounder. Birmingham’s Holt was game but stiffened up badly when hit and Mccrory had no problem hitting him, hard and often. After an impressive barrage, Feargal landed with a solid single left hand that wobbled the away man. Referee John Lowey hesitated momentarily before diving in at 1-42.
Debutant Padraig Mccrory had it all his own way against Jacob Lucas, slugging out a 40-35 win on Hugh Russell Jnr’s scorecard. Lucas was second best in the opener and fell heavily at the end of the round after walking into a right hand. The Trowbridge man was effectively running for the remainder of the bout.
Tyrone Mccullagh got the evening underway with a 40-36 victory over Barcelona-based Nicaraguan Jose Aguilar. Mccullagh made full use of his southpaw skills to sedate Aguilar. Mr Lowey refereed.
Belfast debutant Sean Magee stopped
Jules Phillips at 53 seconds. Referee Eamonn Magill had an easy decision to make as Islington’s Phillips reeled from a body shot.
Matthew Wilton picked and poked his way to a routine 60-54 success over centurion William Warburton on Mr Magill’s card.
Newport’s Sean Mcgoldrick coasted to a 59-54 win over Liverpool’s Ricky Starkey on Mr Lowey’s reckoning.
THE VERDICT Burnett is a star in the making, while Haskins displays grit to stick around.