Confirmed! Ryan Burnett will bid to unify World titles at SSE Arena

Kazakhstan WBA champion lined up as opponent

Ryan Burnett
Published 2nd Aug 2017
Last updated 2nd Aug 2017

Ryan Burnett is set to defend his IBF world bantamweight title in Belfast.

Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed the news at a press conference this morning.

Burnett (25) from Belfast will fight in a bid to unify the IBF and WBA titles at the SSE Arena on 21st October.

Burnett ripped the IBF crown from Lee Haskins in impressive style back in June.

His opponent will be WBA champion Zhanat Zhakiyanov from Kazakhstan.

“I’m very, very excited!” said Burnett. “This is the path I’ve always believed in and asked for – to be not just a World champion but a great World champion and this is exactly the fight that propels me into that position. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

It will be the first unification fight to ever be held in Northern Ireland.

“The Belfast fans have really took a shine to me especially since my last fight, everything has taken off and I’m just looking forward to getting back to the SSE Arena with a packed house behind me.”

Details on the undercard and tickets will be released at a press conference next week which will be announced soon.