Golden boy Burnett sets the record straight
The 18-year-old Belfast club-mate of Olympic bronze medallist and European senior champion Paddy Barnes won every round to beat Salman Alizida (Azerbaijan) 13-6.
That reversed the decision that favoured Alizida when they met in the finals of the World Youth Championships in Baku earlier this year. When they met in the President’s Cup in Azerbaijan last December Alizida won on a controversial count-back.
He had already beaten Vadzim Kirylenka (Belarus) 12-0, then Zohidion Hoorboyev (Uzbekistan) 2-1 in the semi-final and Salman Alizida 13-6 in the final of a tournament that featured the six top light flyweights at this level in the world.
“It is absolutely unbelievable,” Irish coach Jim Moore said. “He won every round. He was two (points) up after the first round, four points up after the second round and he won 13-6.
“It was a comprehensive win in every manner. In the final at the world youth championships in Baku, Alizida won — I reckon Ryan was hard done by at the time — but this time around I always knew there was going to be no question about who the winner would be.
“Ryan proved he is much better than his opponent. He beat him in every way, he was faster, he was stronger and technically he was the better boxer.”
Burnett, himself, was taking it all in his stride as he tucked into a well-deserved meal.
“It’s unbelievable — the stuff dreams are made of,” he said. “I was looking forward to meeting him again after the last time. I was disappointed with that result and I was determined to leave no doubt about it this time around.
“The plan was to take control of the fight and then stay in control — working behind the jab — and it worked out perfectly. I caught him bang on the chin with a left hook in the third round and he went down. To be fair to him he got up and I did not think he would. But I won the fight well.
“I was amazed with all the support I got from the Irish fans. It was unbelievable to see so many here so far from home. I am delighted for them all and in particular for my team here, Jim Moore and Jimmy Payne and my coach back home, Gerry Story, and of course my club-mate, Paddy Barnes. Paddy has been such an inspiration to us all and I do a lot of sparring with him. I have a great team around me.”
Burnett was maintaining an amazing run of successes for Irish boxing — they have won medals at every major tournament since the 2007 world championships in Chicago.
Barnes was one of Ireland’s three Olympic medallists in Beijing and won a gold medal at this year’s European championships when Darren O’Neill won silver and Kenneth Egan, Eric Donovan and Tyrone McCullough each won bronze.
Irish head coach, Billy Walsh, described Burnett’s achievement as another great result for Irish boxing.
“He is an exceptional talent with a great work ethic,” he said. “Credit has to go to Jim Moore and Jimmy Payne because they have been doing wonderful work with our under-age boxers — returning with medals from every major tournament and I think their contribution should be recognised.
“Now we have two of the best light flyweights in the world — coming from the same club — and that is going to create an interesting problem for us coming into London 2012.”
The Irish Sports Council’s head of high performance, Finbarr Kirwan, said that Ireland’s newest gold medallist will get all the support he needs to further his career. “Ryan Burnett is a truly exceptional talent,” he said. “Because the Youth Olympics is a new competition it did not qualify for special funding this year but there won’t be any funding issues. We’ll make sure he gets all he needs.”
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