Fight Night as it happened - Ashley Lane stops Chris Bourke in round six to win the British bantamweight title
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 22/03/2024 at 22:59 GMT
York Hall in London was the setting for another thrilling night of boxing action on TNT Sports with the vacant British Bantamweight Title on the line as Chris Bourke took on Ashley Lane, with the latter winning in dramatic style in round six. Willy Hutchinson returned and defended his WBC International Light Heavyweight Championship in style, while Moses Itauma enjoyed another stoppage win.
From being homeless to British Boxing Champion. Ashley Lane is an inspiration 🥹🥊🏆
Image credit: Eurosport
That's all for tonight...
It has been an entertaining night of boxing, with a wonderful main event capping off some impressive showings from some of Britain's best young boxing talent. We will see you all again on April 20, for a show headed by Sam Noakes, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Bunce and Crolla discuss Moses Itauma's world title chances
TNT Sports' pundits discuss what route Moses Itauma is likely to take to a world title shot - and whether he can fulfill his goal to beat Mike Tyson's record as the youngest champion at 20.
'From the Big Issue to the British title'
Steve Bunce sums up the incredible stories of the night. Not to be forgotten is Liz Norris, the first cutwoman in a British title fight - and what an important role she played.
'I want Essomba in the summer' - Lane
"Thomas Essomba for the European let's do it this summer," Lane said.
"Let's put it all on the line. The European, British and Commonwealth. He's a class kid. He's a credit to the sport."
'I've been homeless and suicidal...look what I made of myself' - Lane
An incredibly emotional Ashley Lane spoke moving after the bout.
"I started boxing at 15, I was bullied in my childhood," Lane said on TNT Sports.
"I left home at 18. I was homeless a few times.
"This night will live in my mind forever.
"My life's been up and down. I've been homeless and suicidal.
"Nowhere to live. It's been brutal. Look what I made of myself.
"Nobody from Northampton town had ever won a British title. And I'm the first.
Lane stops Bourke in Round 6!
What an effort from Ashley Lane! A huge upset as his indomitable will broke Bourke down. A wild right hand changed the fight hurting Bourke and he sustained pressure. Bourke was thrown to the canvas which gave him a breather but it was not enough and Lane smothered him again with big shots which led the referee to stop the fight. The NEW British and Commonwealth champion.
Bourke-Lane: Round 5
Bourke with a good first minute catching Lane with a nice right hook and a couple of straight lefts but Lane will not stop coming forward and once more catches his opponent more as the round goes on.
Bourke-Lane: Round 4
Lane is growing into the fight. Lane catches him with body shots and uppercuts upstairs in close. He might have taken that round. Bourke has built a lead but he could be forced deep into the fight if Lane's cut holds, which it looks like doing so at present.
Bourke-Lane: Round 3
Lane with a bit more joy crowding Bourke and pounding the body. He will hope this attack can maybe make a difference if the fight goes into the later rounds with question marks over whether the favourite being tight at the weight. Bourke still landing for more clean shots though and takes a 3-0 lead.
Bourke-Lane: Round 2
Lane is forcing Bourke to fight every second of the round but the favourite is unpeturbed at present, landing straight lefts upstairs at will and the cut above the eye will surely not last until the mid-point of the fight.
Bourke-Lane: Round 1
Lane looks to crowd Bourke with pressure, but is being caught with straight left hands to head and body and has a cut above his right eye already. The referee says it was from a punch, though replays look like it might have been the heads brushing each other.
'Next Hutchinson fight will be step right up' - Frank Warren
"All the fighters, they've all done the business," Warren said.
"I thought Royston [Barney-Smith] boxed really well.
"Willy [Hutchinson] needed that, he did the business. The next fight we're going to step it right up."
Main Event next
A second chance for both fighters as Chris Bourke and Ashley Lane look to take advantage of their second opportunity to win a Lonsdale belt, with the vacant bantamweight title on the line.
'We want another seven fights this year' - Francis Warren
"We want him to have another seven fights this year, hopefully by that stage he will be 16-0," Francis Warren said on TNT Sports.
"100 per cent he will be on the May 18 fight in Saudi."
Itauma stops Garber in first round
Itauma landed with a vicious left hand early in the round which had his opponent vulnerable in the corner and it looked for a second that the referee was stopping the contest early on. In the last minute of the round, Garber was trapped in the corner once more as Itauma landed with a big overhand left, uppercut and hook - and with nothing coming back the referee did indeed halt the bout.
Heavyweight action up next...
Moses Itauma (7-0, 5 KOs) is next in the ring. He takes on Dan Garber (5-2). He showed his ability in Riyadh recently and will want to back this up tonight.
'I'll fight anyone' - Hutchinson
"I'm back and I'm on form and ready for bigger and better.
"I'll fight anyone. I want those big names, I want the Yardes, I want the Buatsis, I want Dan Azeez and when I beat those guys there I want the world titles."
Hutchinson stops Houben in Round 2!
That was impressive! The Scot landed a beautiful right hand which saw Houben flying back to the canvas in the corner. The German got up determined to last to the end of the round but he was swarmed with a flurry of punches and Hutchinson landed with a right uppercut and then a straight right which rocked his opponent's head back and caused the referee to dive in between them. His record improves to 17-1 (13 KOs).
Hutchinson-Houben: Round 1
A dominant opening round from Hutchinson. The Scot can't miss with his shots from long range with either hand. A right hand in the opening 30 seconds noticeably wobbled the German.
Boxing coming up...
We have a show on Saturday 20 April where Sam Noakes will headline the show and Saturday 11 May where Denzel Bentley will face Danny Dignum with the British middleweight title on the line. These will be shown live on TNT Sports and Discovery+.
Light heavyweights up next...
Willy Hutchinson (16-1, 12 KOs) making the first of his WBC International Light Heavyweight Championship takes on German Martin Houben (17-2, 10 KOs) shortly.
'No 20-year-old in the country shows this composure' - Ben Davison
"There's more than a world champion in this man," Davison said.
"I don't think there's a 20-year-old in the country who shows this composure."
Barney-Smith wins by knockout in fourth round
A picture-perfect display from Barney-Smith. He really looks ready to step up to a different level. He finishes off trapping his opponent in the corner with his jabs, then delivering three consecutive uppercuts which saw Perez go down in the corner and stay on the canvas for the count. Barney-Smith moves to 9-0 (5 KOs).
Barney-Smith-Perez: Round 3
Perez touched the canvas, but the referee ruled it a slip. The same again from Barney-Smith, expertly moving in and out of range and unfailing accurate with his shots, trapping his opponent in the corner and landing heavily to head and body as the round came to a close.
Barney-Smith-Perez: Round 2
Fair play to the Costa Rican who is eating left hands from Barney-Smith but staying upright and not really looking on the brink of being stopped.
Barney-Smith-Perez: Round 1
He does look that little bit special Barney-Smith. He is so accurate, he puts pressure on without over-exerting himself or opening himself out. He rocked Perez with straight lefts and a left hook. This might not last long.
Fury-Usyk getting closer...
The fight we have been waiting at least two years for will finally take place on May 18 and you will be able to watch it on TNT Sports Box Office.
Royston Barney-Smith fighting next...
Another product from Ben Davison's Performance Centre.
'Owen Cooper could be a fight down the line' - Francis Warren
"He's ready for a step up, whether that's an eight-round fight or a title fight we'll see," Warren said.
"Maybe Owen Cooper who fought last week."
Cooper beat Ethan James last Saturday at the Magnificent Seven event live on TNT Sports.
Noakes stops Wesolowski in Round 3
A big right hand was the beginning of the end and Noakes pounced to land a flurry, including another overhand right and nasty uppercut leading to the referee stepping in as the Pole sagged in the corner.
Noakes-Wesolowski: Round 2
Wesolowski making things a little bit harder for Noakes landing a couple of rights himself but the volume and power still came from the home fighter with his right uppercut looking the punch which will get his opponent out of there.
Noakes-Wesolowski: Round 1
Lovely combinations from Wesolowski reddening the face of the Pole and forcing the opponent back into the ropes. He is landing at will with his jab and following up with straight rights and eye-catching right uppercuts. This could be a third second-round stoppage.
Welterweight Sean Noakes is next in the ring
Noakes (6-0,3 KOs) faces Poland's Marian Wesolowski (4-12-1).
'He's in it to become a world champion' - Ben Davison
"He has to learn the sport again," Davison said. "But he's not here for this level, he's in it to become a world champion."
McCormack stops Zamora in Round 2
A vicious right to the body put Zamora down straight away and his grimacing opponent did not want the pain to continue.
McCormack-Zamora: Round 1
Zamora was on the backfoot throughout, not wanting to give McCormack a stationary target to hit with the debutant's power clear. Partiuclarly impressive were McCormack's body shots with either hand which will surely lead to his Nicaraguan opponent slowing down in the next round or two.
Luke McCormack's debut up next
A lot of people have been looking forward to this highly-rated light-welterweight stepping inside the ropes for the first time as a professional.
"I was Muhammad Ali...now I'm more Sonny Liston'
"I think my man strength is coming," Ali said on TNT Sports, echoing Steve Bunce's judgment.
"I use to thing I was Muhammad Ali. Now I'm more Sonny Liston."
Ali stops Aleksandrov in Round 2
Ali landed with a right uppercut with rocked Aleksandrov's head back which saw the Bulgarian go down to the canvas. He got up at ten but the referee waved the contest off.
Ali-Aleksandrov: Round 1
A dominant first round from Ali, catching his Bulgarian opponent flush on the chin on numerous occasions. He will be looking for the first early finish of his career.
The best name in boxing up first...
Sonny Liston Ali (7-0) takes on Peter Aleksandrov (4-34-1) in a light middleweight contest.
We have had one fight already..
Imposing looking cruiserweight Iman Zamatkesh won his debut fight in the opening round.
HELLO AND WELCOME!
Thanks for joining our coverage of another fantastic fight night on TNT Sports. The action begins on TNT Sports 2 now. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
Fight card
- Chris Bourke vs Ashley Lane - British Bantamweight Championship
- Willy Hutchinson vs Martin Houben - WBC International Light Heavyweight Championship
- Royston Barney-Smith vs Jose Manuel Perez
- Moses Itauma vs Dan Garber
- Sean Noakes vs Marian Wesolowski
- Sonny Ali vs Petar Aleksandrov
- Luke McCormack vs Robin Zamora
- Iman Zahmatkesh vs Pawel Strykowski
- - -
TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement