Ricky Burns may never box again after fighting with a broken jaw for more than 10 rounds of his controversial world title defence against Raymundo Beltran, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
The 30-year-old had titanium plates inserted in his jaw after retaining the WBO lightweight title following the draw with the impressive Mexican at the SECC in Glasgow and Hearn later cast doubt on his future.
Most observers thought Beltran had won the contest and there was immediate talk of a rematch but Burns faces greater concerns.
Hearn said: “Everyone’s talking about his next move. I can’t even guarantee he’ll box again at the moment.
“He’ll be in for a couple of days and then we wait and see how it sets and forms and go from there.
“It was a horrific injury to suffer. There have been a few occasions when people have boxed on with broken jaws I couldn’t imagine anything worse but they are extraordinary people, fighters, and he found the bravery to carry on.
“The doctor, who doesn’t know a lot about boxing, was quite astonished when I told him he had boxed for half-an-hour with a broken jaw.
“He asked if he had taken any shots on it and I told him that was the understatement of the year.”
After an impressive start, Burns was caught with a powerful left hook in the second round and was sent to the canvas in the eighth with a similar strike.
Beltran, who came in to Saturday’s clash having only lost two of his 38 fights, had the Coatbridge fighter on the back foot for much of the contest and Burns held on to his opponent on numerous occasions while boxing far less tightly than normal.
It became increasingly apparent as the fight progressed that he was in severe pain with his jaw and Hearn paid tribute to the double world champion, who he revealed had been sitting up following surgery.
“When I spoke to Beltran last night, he said he could hear him almost crying in clinches where the heads were going in on the jaw unpleasant stuff, but he’s on the mend,” he said.
“You look at Ricky Burns and he looks more like choirboy than a fighter. But he’s one brave kid and our immediate concern is to make sure that he’s okay.”
The fact that Burns fought on through the pain was remarkable but it was also incredible to most who watched the fight that Beltran was not declared the winner, despite the champion’s strong finish in the final two rounds.
One judge gave the Scot the verdict by 115-112, another gave it to Beltran by 115-113 with the third judge scoring it 114-114, a verdict that drew gasps and very muted celebrations inside the hall.