Eales goes to war for superb upset victory
Eales lands a right on Krasimirov. Pictures: Chris Dean for Boxxer
WITH the adrenaline rush of his finest hour gone, Ashlee Eales admitted he was paying the price for Saturday night’s ring heroics.
“I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck today,” the likeable Nuneaton light-middle said. “It felt worse yesterday.”
It is Monday morning and the bruises haven’t dulled the buzz Eales feels following thrilling victory over Spaniard Diego Krasimirov on Boxxer’s major First Direct Arena, Leeds, bill.
In an eight round war, both men hit the canvas before 32-year-old Eales prevailed by a 76-74 scoreline.
Yet again, the slick, hard-hitting southpaw upset the applecart: Krasimirov, a former world youth champion, had won all 10 contests going into the barnstormer, half of them by stoppage.
“I was a 3-1 underdog and I thought, ‘that’s crazy,’” said Eales, still bubbling from the excitement of another upset. “I thought, ‘they haven’t got a clue’.”
It is a career best performance on the back of another career best performance. In May, the former Midlands champ stopped highly regarded, unbeaten Irishman Daniel O’Sullivan in eight.
The boxer, who admits his dedication, in the past, was not what it should’ve been, has clearly turned a corner. With just two losses in 15, Eales, a member of Lee Spare’s Boxing Clever gym, has emerged as a contender – and he’s done it the hard way. He’s taken tough fights in the away corner and prevailed.
“I feel I have got to the point where I should’ve been before,” he said. “Nine years ago, I went and watched a Josh Warrington fight and said, ‘I can beat them, I will be in that ring one day’. That was the start of it all.
“I had six amateur fights. River (Coventry contender River Wilson-Bent) used to say to me, ‘you’ll win the novices’. That was the first goal. I was 3-0 as an amateur, won the novices, found it hard to get fights and thought, ‘**** it, I’ll go pro.”
The Eales of 2026 is a very different fighting machine from the motor-mouth showman of a handful of years ago. He’s fitter, hungrier and desire has given him greater grit.
“They should’ve fought me when I was just mouthing off,” Eales grinned.
“I’ve always had the skill and natural ability, but you can’t just be born with the fitness – that’s something that has to be earned.
Ashlee Eales’ against-the-odds victory proves he’s the Real Deal
“I think I’ve earned the right to fight for the English title, I want championships now. I’ve shown I’m ready for the Top Ten guys. I have a good half-decade in me and I’m still learning, I’ve more in the tank now.”
Against Krasimirov, Eales tasted true trench warfare for the first time – and passed the test. He dropped the favourite in the third, only to be floored in the following round before digging deep and really imposing himself.
“He was exactly what I expected him to be – a top talent,” Eales said, “and I think that’s what got me the win. He underestimated me, I didn’t underestimate him.
“After the fight, I went to bed and couldn’t sleep because I was buzzing and my whole body was aching.
“The only time I’ve experienced something like that was when I sparred Sam Eggington before his fight with Conah Walker.”
Eales added: “The harder you work, the better you get.”
The hard work is certainly paying dividends.
Manager Jon Pegg said: “Ashlee boxed really well. He dug deep and he had to. He’s learned you have to fight like that to win fights like that.
“Ashlee can definitely win an English title, without a doubt, and if you can win an English you can fight for the British. If you’re good and you can punch, you can win a title fight.”