Ashlee is in line for a major title eliminator

Ashlee Eales…hopes of a big fight at York Hall, Bethnal Green.

ASHLEE Eales is boxing Marmite.

You either like the former Midland champ’s swagger, ring strutting and spiel, or you find it unpalatable.

His are the antics of a social media generation, his stream of soundbites are bold and brash.

I find the Nuneaton 30-year-old entertaining and, for a journalist, he’s a gift that keeps giving, firing one killer line after another.

“Let’s get this pretty face on TV and watch me whupp more ass,” he told me after one performance. He doesn’t mind if the paying public buy tickets to watch him lose or win as long as they buy tickets.

I’m, therefore, pleased by news Eales is in line for another substantial fight – that’s more glorious quotes on the way.

The Boxing Board of Control have been asked to give English light-middleweight title eliminator status to a clash between the former dancer and Kingsley Egbunike, an Acton fighter who has won 10 of 14 (one draw).

The bout is provisionally pencilled in for York Hall, Bethnal Green, in June.

I’ve yet to interview Eales, but he’ll tell me victory is a near formality, that Egbunike will be rendered unconscious.

It won’t be hype or big sell. Ashlee’s self-belief is steel solid, he wears it like armour.

He knows the big statements increase the height of a fall from grace, but it’s a calculated risk.

After taking the title, Ashlee said: “I was prepared to take all the stick I would’ve got for the cockiness and boasts. Listen, I’m prepared to fall farther than most, I’m prepared to climb higher than most.”

 Until his last bout, Eales delivered everything he said he would deliver. With more angles than Pythagoras and blessed with lights-out power, he peeled off 10 straight victories. Not many – this writer included – gave him much chance of beating Stanley Stannard away from home for the Midlands belt.

Ashlee had no doubt – and produced a career best performance to take the points decision. It was an “I told you so” moment from a prospect who has told us a lot.

Then last June, Omir Rodriguez snapped his winning streak. Eales suffered a broken hand – the man is cursed with fragile mitts – and boxed below his best.

The ability is there, so is the power. It’s Ashlee’s application that has been questioned in the past.

This week manager Jon Pegg admitted: “If he trains hard, he can beat a lot of good kids. If trains, he’s capable of beating anyone – if he doesn’t train, he’s capable of losing to anyone. That’s the way it works in boxing.

“He worked really hard for the Midlands title fight and look what he did. He made the mistake of thinking all the hard work was done in that fight and the rest was easy.”

Rodriguez showed Eales the error of his way.

In a recent interview, Ashlee stressed important lessons have been learned from that setback.

He said: “I now know I have to stay ‘up’ for fights like this. You saw what happened last time when I got complacent.

“I don’t care if the fight is in my back garden or for a major title, I now know I have to train the same.”