Theophane chop chops his way to the top by James Howard Aug 8th 2008

Having defeated DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley over eight rounds on away soil, London's enigmatic Stateside representative Ashley Theophane spoke to BritishBoxing.net about the win, what he has been up to since we last spoke, and where the Kilburn stylist will go from here. Even seasoned boxing fans could be forgiven for not realising the fight had even been made, it was the way an unusually reticent Ashley wanted it. "I didn't even tell my mum until after the fight. No one knew. Only people who follow boxing on the net. My boys WBA number two Dmitriy Salita and WBC number six El Gato knew, as I had to do last minute sparring with them and they wanted me to win but I got the idea that they weren't sure if I could (win). "The people I told all kind of reacted like ‘you fighting Chop Chop? He went twelve with Floyd Mayweather and rocked him, and he shock up Miguel Cotto.' But I believe in me and I know who I can beat a lot of them top boys. I spar with WBC number four Ajose Olusegun all the time so I know how to fight southpaws so I was very confident." In fact the internet, or at least Theophane's access to it, played an essential part in the making of this fight, as the fitness fanatic explains. "I basically saw that Demarcus Corley was fighting in 10 days on the internet so I got my adviser Stacy Warren from Hoodstripes Entertainment to contact them. I was weighing 151lbs but got my weight down just in time. "Boxing trainer John Tandy who I was working with in camp, knew I wanted the fight when he saw me using my right hand on pads on our last day working together." This is the right hand that the light-welterweight managed to injure while topping the bill at York Hall in June. Despite comprehensively defeating the respected African Geofrey Munika on points (Munika down in the fourth), the event presented some negative eventualities with Ashley admitting he found it difficult in 'getting up' for the occasion. On top of that, an injury to that hand could have meant the brakes being applied to Theophane's journey – something he is keen to avoid. "I was training for three weeks in Newark, New Jersey and couldn't use my right hand as it was hurting too much. I never used it for the full three weeks in training camp. I was rubbing it with Jointace Gel so the swelling had gone down but it still hurt when I punched so I was working on ways to use it...like to the body and just placing it out there and coming big with my left hook or uppercut. "If Corley wasn't a southpaw it wouldn't have bothered me but I knew I could hit him all day long with my right hand. Southpaws don't bother me." Before adding confidently, "That's a call out right there to them top southpaws - Hoodstars coming for you, baby." Among those who had heard of the fight, there were some raised eyebrows. Despite one or doubts among his peers, Theophane maintained his self-belief. "I 100% believed in myself. I was at his last fight in Madison Square Garden against WBC number one Devon Alexander and I knew I had what he takes to beat both of them. I did a better job than Alexander. If I had 12 rounds, 'Chop Chop' would have been chopped down and stopped. This is why I got involved in boxing - to fight the big names." Corley's team seemed to develop a keen interest in Ashley's (a qualified nutritionist) food intake before the fight. "Chop Chop had Don Turner as his coach and they where saying they going to whoop my ass. They where asking the waitress at the hotel what I was eating. I didn't care what they where eating cause I knew I eat real good. "He didn't say much. His whole team thought I was his way back into the big time. But I knew he was my ticket. He was stronger than I thought he would be." Answering critics who might suggest the Kilburn man has not always taken on the best opponents, Theophane disputes the theory and makes a compelling argument. "People look at my record and think I don't want to fight no one, or think I have been carried but they don't know that I have been self-managed for four years, three years officially. So I have never had a promoter or manager really. I have financed myself to where I am now. "I ain't supposed to be here in this position. Many people would have given up. I could be dead or in jail or even on the block but I chose this path and this is what I am focusing on." Another factor such critics should observe is the frequent trips to box abroad made by the globe trotting light welter, something other fighters managed to avoid en-route to world titles. Ashley agrees the experiences helped when taking on the recent world title challenger. "I think it did (help). The first fight I did in Germany - I was more nervous than this. I enjoyed the whole build up to this fight. People thinking Chop Chop was going to knock me out. I even enjoyed Chop Chop's ring entrance. The crowd was chanting his name and the first three rounds chanting 'USA, USA' but I made them go quiet as round by round I broke him down. I was smiling to myself." Analysing his performance, Ashley said: "I think my defence which is normally my strength wasn't too much there, but I wasn't fighting the typical Hoodstar way. When I boxed him, I lost those rounds so I had to walk him down. I think I fought the best I have ever fought. I give myself a seven out of ten, (my performance against) Bosworth was a six - that's how much more I have in my arsenal! Graciously, Ashley thanked Corley after the bout. "I thanked him and told him I had watched all his big fights and it was an honour to share a ring with him. I want the big fights he has had and I am very sure they will come." So has there been much interest since the win? Ashley's amused. "It's funny, I'm born and bred in London but the only promoters who have shown an interest in signing me are Jonathan Feld (WSO) and Frank Maloney. So I have to say they know talent. But the others.....I won't mention names. Don't want a lawsuit (JH: neither does BBN - thanks!). "They sign people like Barry Morrison, Colin Lynes, Gavin Rees, David Barnes and Lenny Daws but they wouldn't sign me. How funny is that! "There are some offers on the table. Still early stages but some US promoters are interested in working with me." And with the wheels of his stateside career fixed and realigned, can he bring himself to discuss his defeat to former French champion Ali Oubaali, endured on Theophane's last American outing? "Ali Oubaali. What can I say? The US boxing press liked me but people in the US who seen me sparring these world ranked fighters knew that wasn't me that turned up. I fought the wrong fight the first few rounds and played catch up. Some journalists still gave me the fight. "It happens.....The best in the world have lost....Roy Jones Jr, Marvin Hagler, Pernell Whitaker but its how they come back. So it happens...but I came back and came back big." So what next for Ashley Theophane? “I was supposed to go camp with Dmitriy Salita but Corley burst my ear drum so just ticking over doing some yoga and pilates. I am in the US for another month, maybe tying up a promotional deal - There maybe some big news real soon. “The reason I came to the US is because I was supposed to sign a management deal with a company but we saw my future differently - that's why I left camp and fought Corley. It's funny how things work out." Never one to relax for long, Ashley's still enjoying his youth work and regularly keeps his autobiography up to date. Ashley also keeps a diary which is updated every time he attends a training camp - it's published on UltimateBoxingResults.com and the latest entry which addresses the recent lead up to the Corley fight and dealing with promoters, is due shortly. "Bridge Academy & Fox Primary School are two schools I work regularly with but it's also nice sometimes to work with the youth when I can - especially youth that come from my background. I like to show them you may be given a bad start in life but there is always hope. You just need to believe in yourself and sometimes they just need someone to believe in them. "The autobiography is there always adding to it. I been through mad stuff and done mad stuff so I want it to be proper when it lands. I'm under 30 but I've had mad crazy times so it will be fun to share it with people. A lot of schools, Youth projects are interested in my story with all this Youth crime going on. And there is the travelling. "Last year I spent four months abroad. This year out of the eight months I have been abroad for four months and I could be coming back again this year. It makes me appreciate the people in my life more and I love travelling. Life is too short to be bored - I try to make the most out of life. Happiness is important to me and I love my job. I have met so many cool people and been all over the world through boxing." With the bell about to ring for the start of the boxing in the Olympic Games, I wondered if he would be an interested spectator. "I have never been a fan of amateur Boxing but always followed the Americans and Cubans - I like stylish boxing. I think the British team should do good. They supposed to have a good team. I been reading in the US press about the US team so I doubt they will get a lot of medals as there is a lot of unhappy fighters in the US team. “I'll be watching the Olympics and one thing I want to say to the British fighters. You don't need luck. Just go do what you do - BANG BANG!” Before signing, off Ashley just wanted to express gratitude to BritishBoxing.net for recognising him as fighter of the week, "Thanks BBN for making me Fighter of the Week – I have waited a long time for that!" (Team THEOPHANE has just joined forces with HONEY STINGER ENERGY who join FOR GOODNESS SHAKES & WELLMAN VITABIOTICS as backers of Ashley "Treasure" Theophane.)

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