World Boxing News 2010-2013

‘Treasure’ unhappy at losing opportunity Former British light-welterweight champion Ashley Theophane went through all his pre-fight preparations for his appearance on Ricky Hatton’s undercard on Saturday night, only to see his hopes dashed moments before his bout with Chris Truman. The 32 year-old was scheduled for an eight-rounder as he looks to build on his Stateside win over Ronnie Warrior in August and was gloved-up and ready to go until Senchenko crippled Hatton with a ninth round body shot. Inexplicably, the Londoner’s contest was then pulled from the card by Hatton Promotions matchmaker Richard Poxon and Theophane is now considering his next move following the disappointment. “It was due to bad organization from head of boxing Richard Poxon that my fight did not happen,” Theophane told World Boxing News. “Because of Richard Poxon, Hatton promotions are in breach of contract with me. The only reason I've stayed is because Ricky himself believes I have ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Treasure’ training for August 24 return Former British light-welterweight champion Ashley Theophane is aiming to put the disappointment of his loss to Darren Hamilton behind him when he makes his comeback in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 24. The 31 year-old, who has fought some of the top fighters between 140 and 154lbs, planned to take 18 months out of chasing his world title dream to win a British Lonsdale belt outright and just fell short with points defeat to Hamilton in May after making two defences. The Londoner is now returning to the US to re-establish his headline status on American soil. He fights for the 38th time in his career against an opponent yet to be named at NC Music Factory’s Reelworks Studios and is currently preparing to get back to winning ways. “Training has gone well for this fight. I've been in the gym for nearly nine weeks so I'm in great shape and ready to go,” Theophane told World Boxing News. ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Treasure’ offers fallen champion a home fight Former British light-welterweight champion Ashley Theophane has wasted no time in putting himself forward for a fight with Amir Khan after the Bolton fighter lost his WBA title for the second time at the weekend. Theophane, 31, was himself relieved of his belt against Darren Hamilton last time out in a shock result of his own, but has gone the distance with Khan’s latest conqueror Danny Garcia and would be willing to fight Khan on his UK return later this year. “Golden Boy have said that Amir Khan can fight world champions Devon Alexander and Paul Malignaggi but he needs a confidence boosting fight first,” Theophane told World Boxing News. “At 140lbs there is no one else in Britain to fight, except me. I did better than him against Garcia. “Many people thought I won that fight and even Danny said straight after the fight he thought I won. “I beat two time world title challe...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Treasure’ out in the autumn as US offers keep coming Former British light-welterweight champion Ashley Theophane was revealed to WBN that he was offered the chance to face Keith Thurman on July 21 in American but had to turn the fight down due to lack of preparation time. The 31 year-old is looking to return sometime in the autumn under the Hatton Promotions banner and would be willing to accept a US offer if the right fight, with right time to prepare, presented itself to him. “I was contacted on Saturday about fighting Thurman as WBO World champion Adrien Broner's chief support,” Theophane told World Boxing News. “It says a lot that Golden Boy promotions have contacted me after 140lb WBA world champion Marcos Maidana pulled out of the fight. “Unfortunately I'm weighing 159lbs at the minute and I'm getting ready for an August fight Stateside. “Hatton Promotions match maker Richard Poxon has promised me a UK date in Se...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Platinum Kid’ in line for Hamilton chance Mandatory British light-welterweight title challenger Adil Anwar is ready for his shot at the Lonsdale belt after a comprehensive ten-round win over Dave Ryan on Saturday night in Aintree, Liverpool. The 24 year-old, who scored his 17 th professional win at the famous racecourse, revealed to WBN that he broke his hand early on in the fight and had to adjust his tactics to make sure he continued on the path to victory. “In all honesty it wasn’t my best performance. Without taking any credit away from Ryan, I know I could have performed better and probably ended the fight by way of knock out much earlier on,” Anwar told World Boxing News. “I must admit Ryan was a good challenger. He is clearly a technician and I’m sure he has a successful future ahead of him. “It was clear from the start he came into the ring focused to win and I could tell throughout the rounds that he was giving it his ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Treasure’ expecting big call to come World-rated light-welterweight Ashley Theophane has exclusively told World Boxing News that his attempt to claim the Lonsdale belt outright fell short due to a lack of motivation to fight at domestic level. Theophane lost out to late replacement Darren Hamilton last night at Aintree Racecourse in a somewhat controversial 118-113, 117-112, 115-113 decision, having thrown and landed almost an identical amount of punches to the Bristol fighter. The Liverpool bout represented the 31 year-old’s final defence of the British title and the chance to achieve his goal of winning the belt for keeps. The Londoner had took time out of his world championship ambitions to move down to domestic level, having previously shared the ring with WBC champion Danny Garcia, former WBO titlist DeMarcus Corley and current world title challenger Delvin Rodriguez. Ultimately though, a half-hearted Theophane became embroiled in ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Light-welterweight title changes hands Ashley Theophane failed to make the third and final defence of his British light-welterweight title as Darren Hamilton caused an unexpected upset at the Aintree Equestrian Centre in Liverpool tonight. The 31 year-old, who has mixed it with some of the world’s top fighters in a globe-trotting career, was due to meet local fighter Steve Williams until a chest infection ruled him out and Theophane chose to face Hamilton over Prizefighter champion Adil Anwar. ‘Treasure’ made tough work of it early on as both fighters tried to get in the ascendancy and became embroiled in a scrappy affair, much like his previous contest with Ben Murphy - which favoured Hamilton. Hamilton, 33, kept Theophane frustrated and ragged throughout and claimed a 117-112, 118-113 and 115-113 victory to move on to a potential mandatory bout with the man Theophane chose not to face, Adil Anwar. ‘The Platinum Kid’ scored two kno...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor (Picture by Adrian Wolfe) ‘Treasure’ outlines his future plans                 British light-welterweight champion Ashley Theophane has always been focused on achieving his goals and has now mapped out his plan for multi-weight world titles by the end of his career, which may be in 2016. The 31 year-old explained to World Boxing News that his current status as the Lonsdale Belt holder is a temporary measure whilst the US-based Brit claims the belt for keeps before moving on to a world title. “By 2013, I expect to be campaigning at 147lbs,” Theophane told World Boxing News. “That gives me the whole of 2012 to win my Lonsdale Belt outright, with two more defences and then challenging for a world title. “I hope to defend it once before the end of 2012 and that’s how my next four fights would go, if it was up to me.” The ‘Treasure’ would then not hang around being co...

Ashley Theophane http://ashleytheophane.com On Tuesday I was offered a slot on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather Jr’s long awaited comeback fight against WBC World champion Victor Ortiz. Floyd announced his comeback fight on his Twitter page at 12pm and a few hours later I was notified that Golden Boy Promotions had enquired if I was available to fight on September 17th, as part of the televised portion of the show. It was a huge opportunity and I was hoping for a big name – but when I was told Jessie Vargas, I turned it down instantly. To me it felt like it could have been the Danny Garcia fight all over again, with Vargas not having a world ranking and me having nothing to gain from a win, but everything to lose. The fight is over eight rounds and that was not appealing to me. But just to get the call that they wanted me on the show was a good feeling, as the event will be televised in one million homes across America. Unfortunately that alone does not make it I fight that...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor My motivation is to be the best I can be. I don't want to look back at my career in ten years time and think what could have been so I try to make the most of it while I'm here.  I want very few regrets.  - Ashley Theophane Globetrotter Ashley Theophane had the perfect homecoming last February after picking up the British light-welterweight title from Lenny Daws in an eye-catching performance at Wembley Arena in London. It was Ashley’s second fight since returning to the UK after spending the previous eighteen months fighting on foreign shores. The 30 year-old has never shied away from travelling to get the fights he wants and has even fought as far a field as Saint Lucia, when he knocked out Marcos Hernandez in 2007. Theophane turned pro in 2003 after an indifferent amateur career and started with a seven-fight unbeaten run, with all fights happening on British soil. In 2005 though, Ashley suffered his first major blow, when los...