It was the first time that Ryan Burnett (20-1, 10 KOs) had been in the ring since suffering a freak back injury against Nonito Donaire in November during the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS), when he lost the WBA bantamweight belt.
Well, the former world champion got back to winning ways against Filipino southpaw Jelbirt Gomera (14-6, 7 KOs) at Ulster Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Friday, scoring a sixth-round TKO.
The Belfast born fighter was fighting at super bantamweight this time and had Gomera rocked early in the bout, but it was the body shots that were causing Gomera issues. The Filipino boxer complained to referee John Latham that they were below the belt each time one landed. Burnett was warned twice about the low blows, but in the sixth the referee called the fight over and awarded Burnett a TKO victory when Gomera turned his back.
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“It is good to be back, but I felt a bit rusty in there tonight," Burnett said. "I got the win and now I have to put the head down and get serious again. My injury is finally healed and I feel good. That was the longest I have ever been out of action, as an amateur or a professional. It was good to shake off the ring rust and get moving again.
"I am a bantamweight, I make that weight comfortably," he continued. "Gomera was down from featherweight and I felt those extra pounds. But as a fighter you want that challenge. I am still learning.”
With Donaire sat watching ringside, Burnett said that he would welcome a possible rematch against the "Filipino Flash."
"A rematch could be very likely," Burnett offered. "I think Belfast would like to see it and I would like to see it. It is a strong possibility.”