CONFIDENT ASHLEY
JAMAICAN READY FOR TITLE FIGHT
“IAM going to win back my title and bring the belt back to Jamaica next week to show the fans” said Jamaica’s most famous and accomplished female boxing champion, Alicia “Slick” Ashley to The Gleaner yesterday, shortly after making weight for her title fight i n Denmark tonight, against their bright young star Dana Thorslund in her hometown, at the Struer Energi Park, for the World Boxing Council ( WBC) super bantamweight title.
A very upbeat Ashley said fur ther, “I am feeling prett y good. The weigh-in was all right and I weighed i n at 120 1⁄
2 pounds. She was a little heavier at 121 3⁄4. I am going to get something to eat then relax. Tomorrow night, I intend to take care of business.” Ashley, who is the oldest female boxer in the business at 50, but does not look her age, will be trying to regain the title that she lost to Fatima Zarika on October 1, 2016, in Ghana, by way of a controversial decision.
RETURN FIGHT CLAUSE
She had a return fight clause with Zarika, but it never happened. The Zarika camp gave excuse after excuse, until finally the WBC decided to allow the fight with Thorslund, for the title, with the proviso that the winner fights Zarika next.
Ashley, who has a 24-11-1 record said that this fight has put an end to her many months of frustration.
“I trained for the fight several times, and then it was put off, and I am so happy that i t i s f i n a l l y h a p p e n i n g,” s h e said.
She accepts that her opponent, who is 24 years of age and has a 10-0 record, will be a formidable opponent.
“She is fast, and they are building this up a lot. The fact that she is much younger than me is another talking point. I am not listening to them, however. I am focused. She will have great crowd support as the fight has generated a lot of interest in this small town, but again, I am accustomed to this as most of my fights have been on the road. I am going to win this one.”
Thorslund is quoted as saying, “I’m very excited for my first world title fight. My opponent is a very experienced boxer, so I have a lot of respect for her and I’m expecting a really tough fight.” She then stated that she was glad that the fight was taking place in her hometown, saw this as an asset, and hoped that this would the first of many championship belts for her.
The fight promises to be close and hard fought, with both fast-moving boxers giving of their best.