Ash returns to action after Thailand stint

Ashley Pettigrew…back home at the Hangar. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB

THE Thai’s the limit, big hitting Ashley Pettigrew believes, following a six-month training stint in Phuket.

The Stafford light-middle also had one bout while in Thailand, registering a first round victory five months ago.

Ashley returned here a month ago and has his first fight back on home soil tomorrow (Friday). The 26-year-old light-middle faces experienced Joe Hardy over four rounds on BCB Promotions’ stacked “Independence Day” show at the Hangar Events Venue, Wolverhampton.

The bill is topped by Sian O’Toole’s Midlands featherweight title defence against Doina Costin.

For Ashley, taking part in his seventh pro contest, it’s a chance to showcase the tricks learned in the Far East.

“I’ve been working and improving,” he said. “I’ve been sparring top level fighters. I feel I’ve improved over the last six months, I can box and move more.”

While in Thailand, Ashley sparred Midlands champ Troy Coleman. The middleweight famously upped sticks and enjoyed a successful, title winning ring career in the country before returning to Burntwood.

Ashley, trained here by Ant Bailey and the BCB team, has no plans to build a boxing base overseas. “I’m staying home now,” he said, “and making my career here.”

To date, there’s been one bump on the road to boxing success – a second round loss to dangerous Nikola Stoyanova at the Hangar back in 2023. Pettigrew bounced back with an impressive early stoppage of usually durable Shane Smith, then travelled to Thailand for his second extended fight camp.

“Looking back, the loss was a blessing in disguise,” Ashley, from a white collar background, said. “It pushed me on to get better. But it took a bit of time to get over, it did knock my confidence.”

Ashley, a carpet-fitter by day, is working towards pulling the rug from under fellow local contenders. “At the moment the goal is to get a Midlands title and I’m not far off,” he added. “A couple more wins and we’ll see where we are at the end of the year.”