Sexton looking to Emulate Magri by Kevin Taylor Jun 12th 2008

Talented amateur Ashley Sexton is turning professional with promoter Mickey Helliet and is already setting his sights on equalling Charlie Magri's feat of winning the British title in his third contest. Magri had boxed less than four rounds before taking on Dave Smith for the vacant British title, stopping him in the seventh round, before embarking on fighting Europeans and winning the European title in just his 12th fight. Sexton who is set to make his debut on the 1st of August feels his amateur pedigree could allow him to fight for a British title early in his career if he was allowed to by the board. "Because of my amateur experience and the class of boxers I have mixed with, I really feel confident that I can clean up the division in quick time". said the ambitious Sexton in his first interview since turning pro. "I have my debut in August and then I'd like to fight for the British Masters in October in a ten rounder and then fight the winner of the British title fight between Chris Edwards and Wayne Bloy if the board would allow it." Sexton won four National titles but fell short in the Senior ABA's this year losing to eventual winner Adam Whitfield in the Semi-finals in Sheffield. "Whitfield didn't win that fight, I lost it. I just under performed. Best of luck to him, but he's just an average boxer, I have boxed a lot better and beaten them, on the day I just didn't perform." Ashley isn't 21 until October this year and with the Olympics coming up in London in 2012 the thought of staying amateur till then must have crossed Ashley's mind. "Of course, I'll only be 24 when the Olympics are in London, but I am not going to kid myself, my style really doesn't suit the amateurs, I take shots to throw shots sometimes, the computer scoring just doesn't suit me". "Amateur boxing is becoming a glorified 'tip-tappy' like a fencing session, I like to stand in front of someone and throw my shots. Also I'm quite a slow starter, I'm not saying I get caught cold or anything, I just take a couple of rounds to get going so I think the three minute rounds will suit me better. "Also of course there's the money side of things too, I have a son called Archie (with Ashley in the photo at the Ally Pally) and another baby on the way soon, in fact due next Monday. Mickey has promised me eight fights a year, some will be on dinner shows but I really want to stay busy and of course I need the money." Ashley has known promoter Mickey Helliet since he was ten years old and boxing at Finchley. "Mickey is a good guy, you can't buy loyalty as a professional, but I know Mickey will be loyal to me and I'll be loyal to him. I could have gone with bigger promoters but then I would have been a small fish in a big pond and would they have had my best interests at heart. With Mickey I know he will have." Ashley will be trained by Paul Rees in St Albans, Rees also trains lightweight prospect Andrew Murray. "I've been training with Paul since January so I'm already getting used to fighting in a pro style. In fact in my last fight I was trying things that Paul has been teaching me." Sexton will compete as a flyweight in the pro game and we all know there is a lack of flyweights in the country. "I'm not that bothered I'll fight anyone up to bantamweight, I'm sure they'll bring over a few imports for me to fight. I don't understand why all the flyweights just can't fight between ourselves though. Look at Chris Edwards who is fighting for the British title he is nothing more than a journeyman. I've been sparring with Ian Napa and Reider Walstad and I'm confident I can beat anyone in the flyweight division already. "I fought a Dane over in Sweden who fought at 60kg, so he had 9kgs on me, I just made sure I stayed away from his big punches. There are plenty of super-flyweights out there now and I know a couple of other amateurs are also going to turn over so they'll be people to fight." Ashley had 86 fights as an amateur winning 57 of them and represented his country on 22 occasions. "Boxing for England was the biggest achievement in my amateur career, I boxed for them at every level. "As for my toughest fight, well the best I fought was a Cuban who was number four in the World called Yoandri Salinas, technically he was the best I fought. "As for the toughest that has to be Salgondo Jose Ortiz who fought at 54kg in the Athens Olympics, I hit him with everything apart from the kitchen sink and he just wouldn't budge. I beat him twice on points but couldn't put him away. Just looking at him you knew he was a hard man." Ashley's amateur career ended with him boxing in the Haringey Box Cup at Alexandra Palace last weekend, and his last fight saw him win a points decision over Ireland's Jim Moore to take home the gold. "It was great to win at the Ally Pally as that is where I lived when I was first born, it was great to have all my family along to see me and there must have been at least thirty of my immediate family there to watch, it's the first time for a long time they've all been to see me as I've boxing in places like Birmingham and Sheffield as well fights all over Europe and also Africa. "It was also my way of saying thank you to Haringey for all the help they have given me and I hope I made them proud. I've left the amateur scene on a high as my opponent was an Irish international who has won the senior title twice at light-fly". Sexton who works as a central heating installer is looking forward to keeping busy and his debut at the Coliseum in Watford will also see Ojay Abrahams reach the magical 100 mark so as one pro comes to the end of his career another starts his and BBN will be there to cover the event and I'm already looking forward to my first glimpse of 'Flash Ash'

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