Streatham’s Chris Bourke wins Southern Area title

Chris Bourke is the new Southern Area super-bantamweight champion after a 96-94 points win over Ramez Mahmood on Saturday night.

The 25-year-old from Streatham is ready to challenge for the British title with Brad Foster set to vacate.

Bourke (8-0) felt he should have been awarded the victory by a wider verdict on the Frank Warren show at BT Sport Studio.

“I’ve got full respect for Ramez – he was a lot better than I thought he was,” said Bourke. “I thought I’d take him out of there and I thought I hurt him in the second round, but he’s a warrior.

“It was my first 10-rounder and it was on my mind. I didn’t want to have a solid five rounds and then gas out.

“I thought I bossed it. I let him get into it in the ninth and 10th round, but other than that I thought I was in charge and doing what I wanted to do.

“If the British title is vacated then I want it.

“It was valuable getting the 10 rounds in today. It’s definitely something that will boost my confidence.”

Battersea middleweight Denzel Bentley moved to 13-0 with a seventh-round stoppage of Mick Hall.

Hall (15-3) was pulled out by his corner after a punishing attack left him with major swelling under his right eye.