Big hitting Eales is facing a dilemma

Ashlee Eales…a man with wrecking ball power

BIG punching Ashlee Eales – a man with sleeping potion in each fist - faces a dilemma on Tommy Owens’ 12 bout Planet Ice, Solihull, show this Saturday.

Eales, taking part in his first six rounder after notching-up seven straight wins, wants to get the rounds in, he needs experience over the distance.

Problem is, when the 29-year-old welter connects cleanly, opponents drop. The Nuneaton hope – a former professional dancer – carries bone-breaking power. And the damage isn’t confined to his opponents.

He’s been out since November after fracturing his hand during a one round demolition of Craig Sumner.

This Saturday it’s Dale Arrowsmith’s turn to face the heat. The Hyde, Lancashire, comes with a record of five wins in 89 bouts (three draws). Importantly, only six opponents have prevented the 28-year-old hearing the final bell. One of those was British champ Bradley Skeete.

Eales told me: “What I haven’t done is go six rounds and I need to go six rounds. But it’s a dog-eat-dog sport – if I see him hurt, I’ll go for the finish.”

In a previous interview, Ashlee – a man not short on self confidence – told me: “It’s about time I stepped-up. I’ve shown I can knock out people and I’ve shown I can outbox people.

“We need someone who can be competitive and take the power. We are looking at TV shows this year.”

The TNT Ashlee brings to the ring was illustrated in his fourth fight when he knocked out Kirk Stevens in three. That’s the same Kirk Stevens who won promoter Tommy Owen’s gruelling Top Boxer tournament: a one night, last-man-standing contest between eight welters.

“That win puts things in perspective,” said Eales.

“This year we are putting in 100 per cent, putting everything into the things that I’ve never liked doing – runs, conditioning.”

Eales certainly has a cast iron belief in his ability.

“I didn’t step in a ring until I was 24,” he said. “I’m proof you can achieve what you want in this life as long as you give 100 per cent to it.

“One hundred per cent I can be British champion. I believe I’ll be a world champion before I finish this game.”