KO artist Eales back after breaking hand

Eales posing after a sparring session with Brett Egan

ASHLEE Eales – smooth as silk with snake venom in either fist – returns to the ring next month after suffering a broken hand.

It’s not the first serious injury to a left mitt that carries such power. It probably won’t be the last, Eales, who turned to boxing after a dance career, shrugged matter-of-factly.

Ashlee just hits too darn hard – that’s the issue.

He returns after four months out in a six rounder on Tommy Owens’ October 14 show at Coventry’s Sports Connexion.

The Nuneaton light-middle actually fought last June knowing the hand had “gone” in sparring days before.

Understandably, the usual explosive power was not evident. Instead, Eales danced and jabbed his way to a landslide points win over Dale Arrowsmith.

That’s the unusual thing about southpaw Eales: he can be fleet-footed or unleash devastating firepower.

He’s unbeaten in eight and his victories include a quick KO of Kirk Stevens who went on to win the Top Boxer welterweight tournament.

Ashlee is a man not short on self confidence.

“I boxed in June with one hand,” he told me. “Now I’ve got two, I’m really going for it. I’ve got two rockets instead of one. The  break was clean, it was just a case of being careful (in training). You have to deal with the cards you’re given.

“I’ve got some tough Russian, but it doesn’t matter who is in front of me – I’m going to punch their head off.”

Eales is in a hurry for belts.

“I want to go for the Midlands (title) after this. We’re thinking of going down to welter. Middle, light-middle or welter, I’ll put them away. There are no limits to this career, with the talent we have in our stable – the fighters, the coaches. The rewards are there if you have the desire.

“You have to believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, how is anyone else going to believe in you?”

Eales, loose limbed and languid, has an unusual style for a banger.

“It’s based on adaptation,” he told me, “and I’m only getting better. I’m coming up to 30, but I only started in the game in my early 20s. I have a good bit of time on my hands.”

Ashlee, one of the game’s more colourful characters, is back. And if he bangs like he did before injury, the tough Russian is in for a very tough time.