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Next stop Europe for British champ

5/ 6/2008

PRESTWICH cage fighter Will Burke is the new British lightweight champion after his victory in Sunderland at the weekend.

Burke beat Curt Warburton in the first round, after months of preparation for the big fight.

After the victory, 29-year-old Will said: "I’m over the moon to have won.

"The fight was pretty quick, I think it lasted less than a minute.

"I knew he wanted to try and stay standing up and knock me out but I wanted to get him on the take down.

"We were both expecting a really tough fight, maybe a three round battle but we’re both probably fitter and stronger than we realise.

"I think we were both surprised it was over so quick."

After the pair exchanged a few early blows, Will managed to lock Curt into an arm bar hold, forcing him into submission.

Now, with the British lightweight title under his belt, Will hopes to go on to big things, fighting in Europe’s best competitions.

Will, who lives in George Street, said: "The competition I’m in now, Total Combat, is a feeder show to Cage Rage which is the biggest in Europe.

"Now I’ve won the title, a lot of people will want to have a shot at me and hopefully I can get noticed and get into Cage Rage."

Will has been practicing martial-arts since the age of seven, and took an interest in cage fighting after watching an Ultimate Fighting Champion video at university.

He is sponsored by fightshop.com, left his job as a project manager four years ago to focus on his fighting, and now works part time as a taxi-driver, while also teaching mixed martial arts and offering one-to-one training sessions around Bury.

To sign up to classes call Will on: 07828 318232 or e-mail: willburkemma@hotmail.co.uk.