YORK-born boxer Pinky Burton proved he has the Masters touch by defeating the defending champion to wrest a British title.

And now that he has achieved the first stage of his ambitions he's eager to grab more glory.

The 24-year-old light heavyweight, who lives in Carlton, near Selby, took the British Masters belt from Ryan Wells in the title-holder's home town of Slough.

The fight went the full distance in the first ten round contest Burton has ever tackled, but the outcome was never in doubt.

"I won six rounds and four were even," said Burton. "He was a southpaw and I can switch-hit so I went southpaw against him and that befuddled him.

"He's twice a former ABA champion and as a pro was unbeaten in seven fights, with five knockouts.

"I was right in the lion's den as he had about 500 supporters in his home arena. I hit him with a left hook and he fell, but the referee didn't do a count. They took a point off him in the sixth for a head butt."

The Masters belt gives Burton, who is managed by Scot Tommy Gilmour and trained in Leeds by Terry O'Neill, a career record of seven wins and one defeat, the loss having come on his debut.

Now he's aiming to pick up more titles, with the English Championship and Yorkshire Area crown in his sights.

"Steve Spartacus holds the English title but a guy I've beaten has beaten him," said Burton. "Mark Brookes of Sheffield is trying to get an eliminator for the area title but he is avoiding facing me.

"It all depends which can be arranged first, the English or Yorkshire fight. Now I am in the champion league I want to stay in it and went to get more."

Burton has a warm-up fight scheduled over four rounds on a Frank Warren Fight School bill at Barnsley in five weeks' time and it might be shown on Sky TV.

Updated: 11:01 Tuesday, April 06, 2004