Richardson: Eales is taking step-up when he faces me for title

James Richardson…tries to take Ashlee Eales belt on June 8

IT’S weeks away, but Ashlee Eales has already started the “verbals” for his forthcoming Midlands title defence.

Challenger James Richardson can expect plenty more barbs before he faces the Nuneaton showman on GBM’s huge, title laden show at Sports Connexion Leisure Centre, Coventry, on June 8.

In a recent interview, Eales told me a painful night awaited Scunthorpe’s Richardson.

“I’m going to knock his head off,” he said. “There are levels to this game and it’s my time.

“I can’t see it going many rounds. He’s a bit stiff and predictable. He’d better keep his dukes up because I’m going to be coming for him.”

Richardson refuses to be drawn into a war of words.

“If that’s how he gets up for fights and gets him excited, that’s fair enough,” the 27-year-old shrugged. “It’s not my thing, I’m not into trash talk.”

Ashlee Eales…one of the game’s true showmen

The pair are chalk and cheese. Eales, unbeaten in 10 and making the first defence of the title he took with an upset win over Stanley Stannard, is an interviewer’s dream, spitting out glorious soundbite after glorious soundbite.

Richardson, who maintains rail lines by day, is understated and prefers to let his fists do the talking.

Those fists punched out an exemplary amateur career. Richardson won 40 of 68 bouts, gained a national title and represented his country.

“I know Ashlee had  a couple of MMA fights and a couple of amateurs,” Richardson said. “He’s got that win over Stanley Stannard, which looks massive. But I think I will be a step up for him. I’ve seen bits of him – he’s got quite an awkward style, is full of confidence and will be game.

“I’m not an all-out boxer or all-out fighter. I’m a bit of both, really.

“My fitness is one of my biggest things. I think the longer the journey, the better the opponent, the better I’ll show myself.”

As a pro everything seemed to be going to plan for Richardson until he faced Edvinas Puplauskas last November.

On paper, it looked an undemanding outing against a Lithuanian who had won only eight of 41 going into the fight.

Richardson was shockingly stopped in three. He’s bounced back with a win, but that sole setback in eight fights is hard to ignore.

It was, Richardson, stressed a freak result caused by a blow to the back of his head in the opening seconds.

“My vision was glazed, my head completely scrambled,” he said. “I tried to fight through it in the second, but couldn’t. I lost fights as an amateur – one loss doesn’t end a career or define you.

“I got hit on the back of the head, hit on the back of the head a few times, actually. You could go 1,000 fights without taking a punch like that, but it happened. It’s boxing.”

Richardson and his team are confident of registering the first loss on Eales’ record. Just don’t expect the boxer to shout it from the rooftops.