Venezuelan Yonfrez Parejo’s attempt to clinch the World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight title ended in a points loss to Britain’s Ryan Burnett in Cardiff, despite the champion breaking a hand in the third round.
The 12-round heavyweight fight between Briton Anthony Joshua and New Zealander Joseph Parker at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff ended with Northern Irishman Burnett’s victory on points, with a unanimous decision of 120-108, 120 -108, 116-112 on the sheets of the three judges.
“I was getting into the fight well when I hit him with my right hand in the third round and broke it,” said Burnett, 25, at the end of the duel.
The victory allows Burnett to brighten a record in which he has 19 wins in 19 fights as a professional, while the Venezuelan Parejo, 31, reaped his third loss in 25 fights.
Burnett began by taunting his rival, repeatedly dropping his arms, before diving for the Venezuelan.
In the eighth round it was clear that the Briton had a problem with his right hand, as he was attacking his rival with his left all the time, while using the other to defend himself against Parejo.
In a previous fight, Mexican Edson Ramírez was defeated on points by Briton Anthony Crolla, in a 10-round lightweight bout.
Ramírez cut Crolla across the face during the match, prompting the referee to intervene twice.
The doctor of the evening was called in to examine Crolla in the seventh round, but allowed the British boxer to continue.
Crolla, despite everything, began to throw series of blows and ended up winning the litigation by 102-91 102-90 and 98-92, in a unanimous decision of the judges.
Burnett retains WBA bantamweight title against Venezuelan Parejo
