Irish boxer Glenn Byrne has announced his retirement from the sport after suffering a bleed on the brain during a bout earlier this month. The 29-year-old from Dublin experienced the first loss of his career against William Crolla on a Matchroom card at Planet Ice, Altrincham.
Byrne floored the Manchester fighter four times in the super-welterweight clash, with three knockdowns coming in the second round. Many observers believed Byrne should have been declared the winner at that point, but the fight continued. Crolla delivered a devastating knockout in the seventh round to improve to 10-1 as a professional, while Byrne's record now stands at 7-1-1.
Byrne was rushed to hospital after receiving treatment in the ring and has now confirmed he is no longer medically cleared to compete. In an Instagram post, he said: 'The damage I suffered resulted in a bleed on my brain, and doctors have advised me not to continue fighting. I'm devastated, to say the least, but I'm also very fortunate that my injuries weren't worse and that I'm in good health.'
Byrne reflected on his career, which included nine fights, seven wins, one draw, and one loss. He fought at venues such as the 3Arena, SSE Arena, Ulster Hall, and the National Stadium, and co-main evented on a Matchroom card. He thanked his coach, girlfriend, and others for their support, acknowledging that boxing started as a hobby but he always gave 100%.
