RYAN BURNETT retained his WBA bantamweight title with a convincing points win over Yonfrez Parejo - despite breaking his right hand early on Saturday night.

The softly-spoken star, 25, made a loud statement with his rapid fists, clubbing away at the durable challenger until the judges scored it 121-108, 121-108 and 116-112

8 Ryan Burnett faced tricky Yonfrez Parejo in a defence of his WBA (super) bantamweight title Credit: Richard Pelham -The Sun

8 The Irishman will fancy his chances against anybody in the bantamweight division after his first defence Credit: Richard Pelham - The Sun

Burnett dominated the first round as the 19-0 Irishman made an art out of getting out of range moments after a jab of his own.

The 25-year-old, another Adam Brooth-trained prospect with a low lead hand that pops into a jab when on the offence, kept catching the 31-year-old.

Parejo matched the champ in the fashion stakes - with gold and black shorts - but he could not keep up in the ring as the Belfast boy went up through the gears.

Pocket-rocket Burnett, at just 5ft 4in, overcame a brain problem at the start of his career after doctors discovered one of the three main arteries was blocked.

Incredibly his body naturally built a route around the blockage and we was cleared by doctors to kick off his pro career after around 18 months of invasive tests and campaigning.

Latest boxing news Exclusive BENN AND GONE Benn brands social media a 'killer' and quits Instagram to help mental health WHITE MOVE UFC boss Dana White to confirm move into boxing in 'next couple of weeks' KINGS OF THE RING Top 10 boxers with the longest winning streaks including Floyd Mayweather FROM RUSSIA WITH GLOVE Fury will 'most likely' spar KO artist Davtaev before Wilder trilogy BRIGG TALKER Briggs says 'tag me in champ' as he volunteers to replace Jones in Tyson fight KNOCKOUT BLOW Watch Joshua show explosive power in training as he bulks up for Pulev fight GROSS EARNINGS Watch as Mike Tyson is hit 20 times before brutally KOing Reggie Gross THE GREATEST Top 10 boxers ever revealed and it's 50-0 king Floyd Mayweather who is No1 SYK OF IT Tyson Fury predicts outcome of AJ vs Usyk... but thinks pair will never meet PAUL A FAST ONE Bisping slams 'embarrassing' video of Garcia confronting YouTuber Jake Paul

8 Champ Ryan Burnett was on top for much of the fight but could not land a KO blow Credit: Richard Pelham - The Sun

8 Yonfrez Parejo took some heavy shots and never looked likely to stun the Irishman Credit: Richard Pelham - The Sun

Now Burnett is free to show off his boxing IQ and he did just that in his 19th bout on the Anthony Joshua undercard.

The mandatory challenger - nicknamed The Executioner - never looked like making Burnett his 22nd victim as the champ’s defensive skills shone brightly in the first four rounds.

In the fifth round, Burnett walked back onto a neutral corner and beckoned Parejo in to attack him but he could not lure his rival into any traps.

A looping uppercut connected with the South American’s chin toward the end of the sixth but as technical sweet as the shot was, there is a lack of real power in Burnett’s punches.

8 Credit: Richard Pelham - The Sun

Ryan Burnett ducks under a shot from Yonfrez Parejo

8 Challenger Yonfrez Parejo is rocked by an uppercut from impressive Burnett Credit: Richard Pelham - The Sun

8 Irish ace Ryan Burnett tried to control the fight from distance Credit: Richard Pelham - The Sun

In the eighth round Burnett went up a level and landed with a great right hand after jutting his unblemished jaw out and goading Parejo before landing but the black-gloved warrior brushed it off.

A loud clash of heads at the end of the seventh appeared to leave Burnett with a cut that his corner got to work on during the interval and sent him out again looking clear-skinned.

8 Yonfrez Parejo was Burnett's mandatory challenger Credit: Richard Pelham - The Sun

But Parejo wanted to make it an ugly affair and tried his best to rough-up the champ in the increasingly regular clinches as the battle went on into the championship rounds.

Burnett started round eleven with a combination that had plenty of conviction but - perhaps happy with his points margin - decided against following up.

And he put in a faultless final to get over the finish line and take his belt home just weeks after relinquishing the IBF be had bravely earned last year.