Ukrainian might bars the way to Henry Wharton's push for a world title shot in his beloved York.

Wharton returns to his 'home turf' of York's Barbican Centre in just over three weeks for his British baptism as a light-heavyweight.

The Evening Press can today reveal he will take on Konstantin Okhrey, the reigning champion of Ukraine, in the non-title eight-rounder on September 26 when an impressive night of boxing explodes in York.

But the dream for Wharton and his trainer Gary Atkin is that he can push on to a triple slam of European, Commonwealth and British light-heavyweight crowns on home territory and then go headlong into a world championship challenge, again at the Barbican.

Atkin, who is helping promote Wharton's British debut at the higher weight, said he will fight tooth and nail for his man to aim for world title glory on his own patch.

Said Wharton's coach: "Just imagine York staging a world title fight for Henry.

"For us the Barbican would be the ideal venue and I would push everything in my power to have Henry's eventual world title shot there."

Atkin added that the relative modest size of the Barbican - it can hold 1,600 seats - should not be a deterrent as a world title shot under the promotion of Frank Maloney would attract lucrative patronage from Sky Television.

He did not even think higher seat prices would deter Wharton's legion of fans should they be afforded the chance of watching their hero bid for world domination in his own backyard.

He said: "It would be something fantastic for Henry to have a crack at the world title in his home town. It would be like giving him two extra rounds, I am sure."

But to near that glittering homecoming goal, Wharton has to first see off his latest opponent, Kiev-born Okhrey, on a bill that also features the York ace's next scheduled opponent, Crawford Ashley, of Leeds.

Ashley, holder of the British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight crowns, is gunning for the vacant European title against Frenchman Joe Siluvangui, with Wharton to meet his Yorkshire rival in November.

If Ashley wins Wharton could then add the three same crowns he won at super-middleweight, where his three previous attempts at the world summit ended in epic points defeats to Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank and Robin Reid.

Okhrey, though is the first barrier, and Wharton and Atkin have studied tapes of the big-hitting Ukrainian, who five months ago landed the national title after knocking out Edward Jouk in the sixth round.

Since then he was controversially stopped in the fourth round of an International Boxing Organisation inter-continental cruiserweight title duel with Irishman Darren Corbett.

"We've watched the tape and he was up in all four rounds before the referee moved in to stop the fight after Okhrey turned his back to Corbett," said Atkin.

"The referee interpreted it as not being able to defend himself but it was a strange decision."

Tickets for the September 26 show, also featuring Scarborough's Commonwealth featherweight champion Paul Ingle bidding for veteran Billy Hardy's European title, are selling fast.

Tickets are available from Atkin on 0113 2627817, or Mrs Janet Wharton on York 658608.

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