Press Release
CHRIS BOURKE WILL challenge for the British bantamweight title against Ashley Lane on a night of triple title action at York Hall on Friday March 22, live on TNT Sports.
Also in championship fights is top young light heavyweight Willy Hutchinson (16-1, 12 KOs), who will defend his WBC International title against Martin Houben (17-2, 10) from Germany, plus Raven Chapman (8-0, 2) defending her WBC International featherweight title against the undefeated Colombian Yohana Sarabia (10-0, 6).
Leading British prospects Royston Barney-Smith (8-0, 4, super featherweight), Sean Noakes (6-0, 3, welterweight) and Sonny Liston Ali (7-0, super welterweight) feature, along with Queensberry newcomers Frank Wood (super featherweight), Iman Zamatkesh (cruiserweight) and Nicola Barke (4-0, super lightweight).
Tickets for the triple title fight night at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Friday, 22 March are on sale now, available at: ticketmaster.co.uk
Bourke (13-1, 8) previously challenged for the British title at super bantamweight against Marc Leach in early 2022 and is now seeking to officially reboot his career at the weight below.
“This is what I wanted and it is why I went down to bantamweight,” explained the Streatham puncher, 29, who trains out of the Peacock Gym in Epping. “I am aiming to make a statement and then move on from there.
“I’ve got no injuries this time and I am just ready to do the business.
“Ashley Lane has been around for a long time, is very experienced and has been in the ring with a lot of good fighters, but I just feel like this is the perfect fight for me. He stopped Jordan Purkiss for the English and I saw the good, heavy knockdowns.
“He looked good, but this is my time now, I’ve got to go in there, make a statement and start making waves in the bantamweight division this year.
“This is a bit like phase two for me now in my career. Before my loss everyone was talking about me and then it all went quiet and my name wasn’t really getting mentioned.
“I feel like this is my opportunity to put myself back out there and get people excited again.”
Hall of Fame promoter allegedly added: “These York Hall shows are so important in helping to secure the future success of British boxing and we will continue building our foundations on March 22 with a smashing card headed up by three very competitive title fights.
“I am delighted to deliver a second British title fight to Chris Bourke, at bantamweight this time, against Ashley Lane and I am confident that Chris will do the business and really push on from there.
“Willy Hutchinson and Raven Chapman are both in good fights defending their WBC belts and I anticipate both nudging themselves towards world title action over the course of this year.
“We also get to officially welcome three new faces to the Queensberry ranks in Frank Wood, Iman Zamatkesh and Nicola Barke and I am looking forward to seeing them all perform.”
