Lewisham cruiserweight Zorro wins WBO European title with Millwall fan Bourke also a victor at York Hall show

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Ellis Zorro conceded that he failed to put on the boxing performance he expected despite delivering a spectacular finish to land the WBO European cruiserweight title.

The 30-year-old from Lewisham knocked out Hosea Burton in the seventh round at Bethnal Green’s York Hall to pick up the vacant belt.

But former British light-heavyweight champion Burton had caused Zorro plenty of problems until he landed some huge punches – a brutal short right dropping the Mancunian with referee Marcus McDonnell waving the contest over before he had completed a 10 count.

Zorro is 16-0 with seven inside-the-distance wins.

“I had myself down on the scorecards – I needed something big like that,” the South Londoner told iFL TV. “I was landing a lot of jabs to the body and head and I think he was comfortable with me throwing one shot and not following up. When I did throw the right hand I landed clean and that was all she wrote.

“I didn’t have him outjabbing and outboxing me like that in my mind (when he visualised the bout).

“Hosea is a good boxer. My feet were stuck in the mud a little bit.

“I thought I would deal with his jab a lot better but he was landing it well. He was stepping back quite well. Hats off to him. But once I landed I was a finisher today.

“Once I landed flush I could feel him trying to hold on. I knew I just had to land flush again. I hit him with another right hand and left hook and he took that (before) I threw him on the floor.

“He didn’t really recover and I hit him with another flush right and that was it. I wish I’d boxed a little bit better – that would have made it more of a statement. But it was more just a knockout statement.

“I’ve got a belt and a world ranking (with the WBO organisation). I’m still undefeated and I’ve headlined at York Hall. I’m ready to push on. Let’s go.

“I guess it puts a bit of a target on my back now, having a title. My name will be in the mix.”

Streatham southpaw Chris Bourke won a 58-56 decision over Kevin Trana on the same show.

The 28-year-old is a former British super-bantamweight title challenger but has had two bouts above that weight limit since losing a unanimous decision to Marc Leach in March 2022.

Spanish-based Nicaraguan Trana (15-4-2) never seemed troubled by Bourke’s punches and remained competitive until the final bell.

Bourke, who has held the Southern Area title and WBC International belts, improved his fight ledger to 12-1 (seven KOs).

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