On Friday (March 22), the main event at York Hall will showcase Streatham’s talented left-handed boxer, Chris Bourke, as he takes on Ashley Lane from Northampton. The highly anticipated match will determine the new holder of the British bantamweight title, previously held by Sean McGoldrick.
At the age of 33, Lane finally gets his shot at becoming the first person from Northampton to wear the prestigious Lonsdale Belt. He earned this opportunity by causing an upset last June when he defeated the highly skilled Jordan Purkiss for the English title. Lane’s dominant performance forced Purkiss to retire after just seven one-sided rounds.
Lane had not secured a stoppage win in ten years, making his recent victory all the more remarkable. This particular triumph may even be considered the pinnacle of his career, which also saw him rise to the ranks of Commonwealth champion at the 122-pound weight class. Unfortunately, his reign was brought to an end by Brad Foster from Lichfield, who defeated Lane in a grueling twelve-round match in Stevenage back in May 2019.
On that particular evening, Foster successfully protected his British title, while Bourke, who had previously missed out on a super-bantamweight championship, made his second attempt for the domestic title. Bourke encountered an unfortunate incident in his bout against southpaw Marc Leach from Salford two years ago, breaking his left hand in the third round. This injury forced him to take a break from boxing for a lengthy period of 11 months.
Since returning, Bourke has participated in three competitive fights.
In an intense six-round match, Darwing Martinez showcased his aggression by delivering powerful blows that left Bourke with a bloody nose. However, Martinez’s momentum was halted as the match was stopped in the third round. In the second half of the match, Bourke regained his footing and displayed remarkable movement against the determined Kevin Trana, ultimately winning on points. Bourke further demonstrated his skill by defeating Tanzania’s Adam Mbega with a precisely aimed left hook to the body.
Lane noticed that Bourke had weighed 120 ½lbs (twice) and 121lbs for the three fights, indicating that he has not yet reached the required 118lbs bantamweight limit.
Bourke, speaking from the Peacock gym, expresses that he has never before been given more than four weeks’ notice to meet the 118lbs weight requirement.
Qais Ashfaq, the last southpaw Lane encountered, defeated him in four rounds back in December 2022. However, Lane has bounced back and emerged victorious in his three subsequent matches. Initially considering campaigning at 115lbs, Lane ultimately got the opportunity to challenge Purkiss and showcased remarkable strength at 118lbs.
On Friday night, Lane intends to execute a comparable performance, stating: “I’ll commence with great speed, aggressively confronting him just like a bulldog. I believe his corner will come to his rescue and withdraw him from the fight after approximately seven or eight rounds.”
Bourke, who has a more relaxed attitude, doesn’t believe in making predictions. Instead, he simply stated that there are no simple battles when it comes to competing for the British title. He expressed his desire to join the esteemed company of bantamweight champions such as Teddy Baldock and Lee Haskins, emphasizing how significant it would be for him.
Haskins and Lane’s roles have switched over time, with Haskins transitioning from sparring partner to becoming Lane’s trainer. Lane caught the attention of the Sanigars, prompting his move from Northampton to Bristol about ten years ago. Haskins was known for his flashy and strategic pot-shots, whereas Lane adopts a more direct approach in his fighting style.
Bourke-Lane proves to be an impressive match-up. There is considerable curiosity surrounding Bourke, as he has not yet reached the 118lbs weight class. However, his advantageous three-inch height difference and southpaw stance undeniably work in his favor.
We believe that Bourke has shown significant growth in his past three fights, and we are confident in his ability to utilize his skills to secure a victory in a closely contested bout, potentially resulting in a points win.
Moses Itauma, the 19-year-old southpaw from Chatham, will have a new coach in his corner as he aims to improve his record to 8-0. Itauma has decided to part ways with his previous coaches, father and son Dan and Dan Jnr Woledge, and has now joined Alan Smith at the iBox Gym.
Itauma had been at Woledge Snr’s side ever since he started accompanying his older brother Karol to the gym at the age of nine. It was clear to him that he needed a change of environment.
According to Boxing News, Smith reveals that he played a role in Itauma’s journey by recalling an incident when he brought him to their gym at the age of 13 for sparring with Lerrone Richards. After witnessing his potential, Smith promptly called Frank and Francis (Warren) to share his conviction that he had just witnessed the future heavyweight champion of the world.
As an amateur, Itauma won World Youth gold in Spain in November 2022, and Queensberry Promotions have guided him to seven wins (five early) since making his pro debut last January, only 30 days after his 18th birthday.
Smith asserts that his agreement with Itauma is contingent upon each individual fight, yet it is evident that he desires to continue collaborating with a fighter whom he deems as a “promising heavyweight phenomenon.”
According to Smith, finding suitable sparring partners for Itauma has proven to be challenging, and it has also been difficult to find a good match for him.
Scottish light-heavyweight, Willy Hutchinson, is also showcased on the show, marking 315 days since his impressive four-round knockout victory against Argentine veteran, Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna.
Four months prior, Maderna had surprised Karol Itauma, while Hutchinson demonstrated exceptional hand speed and a vulnerable defense in a four-round knockout.
Hutchinson has been sidelined due to persistent injuries, but now he is making his comeback against Martin Houben, a 30-year-old German who stands slightly taller than the Scot at 6ft 1 ¼ins and possesses great knowledge and experience in the boxing ring.
During his amateur career, Houben participated in the 2011 European Youth Championships as a boxer, competing in a total of 87 matches. However, as a professional, he has experienced a few losses.
Iago Kiziria, a skilled Georgian boxer, successfully subdued his opponent, knocking him out. Considering Hutchinson’s ability to combine his punches effectively, Houben is likely to face difficulties. Hutchinson has a good chance of winning the fight before it goes the distance.
The Verdict: We expect another excellent advert for the British title.
