The fight took place on a Matchroom card at Planet Ice, Altrincham. Byrne floored Crolla four times in the super-welterweight clash, with three knockdowns in the second round and one in the fifth. Crolla delivered a knockout in the seventh round, improving his record to 10-1, while Byrne's record is now 7-1-1.
Byrne was rushed to hospital after receiving treatment in the ring. Byrne announced his retirement on Instagram, stating he is no longer medically cleared to compete due to a bleed on the brain. He said: "The journey has come to an end.
Not in the way I ever wanted, but unfortunately after my last fight I am no longer medically cleared to compete. The damage I suffered resulted in a bleed on my brain, and doctors have advised me not to continue fighting. " Byrne's brother Jay Byrne is his trainer and manager.
JB Promotions posted an update saying Byrne was in good spirits and waiting for CT scan results. Promoter Eddie Hearn commented that Crolla was fighting for his career and that a second defeat would have been career-ending. The exact results of Byrne's CT scan have not been disclosed, and the long-term prognosis for his brain injury remains unclear.