Injured Eales vows to return stronger

Ashlee Eales…a man harbouring dreams of being world champ

ASHLEE Eales is paying the price of being what the trade terms a “banger”: an individual with true knockout power.

The tattooed light-middle was to have appeared on Saturday’s bill at Coventry’s Sports Connexion – a veritable carnival of Warwickshire’s finest fighters topped by red-hot prospect Danny Quartermaine and English title challenger River Wilson-Bent.

But a damaged left hand has kept him away from the party.  He suffered a metatarsal fracture during his last contest, against Craig Sumner, in November. Sumner lasted all of two minutes and 16 seconds.

Eales appeared to have recovered, only for the hand to go again in training.

“It’s frustrating, but these things happen,” said the 28-year-old who has won all seven fights, three inside distance. “I believe everything happens for a reason.”

The damaged had has only stalled grand plans, not derailed them. And Eales, a former dancer, has very grand plans.

He aims to be back in the ring within two months – and is itching to “step up”.

“We are looking at May and something good,” Eales said. “It’s about time I stepped-up. I’ve shown I can knock out people out and I’ve shown I can outbox people.

“We’re now looking at eight rounders, we don’t want to jump to 10 rounds. We need someone who can be competitive and take the power. We are looking at TV shows this year.”

Eales, with a puncher’s tall, lean frame, certainly has the power. Time will tell us if he has the many other attributes needed to be a major titleholder.

The TNT he brings to the ring was illustrated in his fourth fight when Ashley knocked out Kirk Stevens in three. That’s the same Kirk Stevens who recently 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.”