Eales vows: ‘This is just the beginning!’

Eales…”I’ve had a taste of what the game is all about. Pic: Aidan Hewitt

ASHLEE Eales – for fight reporters, a gift that keeps on giving – has tasted the glamour of big-time boxing and hungers for me.

Ashlee Eales may have suffered the first stoppage defeat in a 13 fight career, but was buzzing with excitement, energy and optimism when I caught up with him.

At the First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds, on December 20, Eales rolled the dice, was gallant, but lost the gamble.

He was originally slated to fight Wolverhampton’s Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards over six rounds on the Boxxer bill. When future star Elliot Whale’s opponent withdrew through illness, the 31-year-old stepped in as replacement just 14 hours before the weigh-in.

Eales did what he pledged to do. He went for broke early before Whale’s body shots drove the last reserves of stamina and strength from him. Ashlee’s corner signalled surrender in the sixth.

“I’ve had a taste of what the game is all about,” he said, “I’ve had a taste of true money, I feel I was made for this.

“It was all or nothing, it was a brilliant experience, it’s hard to take that as a loss. I’m feeling it again – I’m not injured, my hands are good, when my suspension’s done this month, I’ll be sparring again.

“I’m learning on the job, I had six amateur fights. If I have half-a-decade left in me, which I know I have, then you’ll really see me make waves.”

For readers of this site, a blow by blow account was always superfluous. Thousands watched Whale – an outstanding amateur who is being crafted into an outstanding pro – halt Nuneaton’s former Midlands light-middleweight champ.

The Kent prospect, trained by Walsall’s Shiney Singh, showed poise, power and discipline to handle Eales’ early onslaught, then close the show with pin-point body shots.

Eales was down in the third and dropped twice in the sixth, prompting his corner to throw-in the towel at one minute six seconds of the session.

Whale, now unbeaten in 13, showed maturity to weather the storm and grind his opponent down. He’s getting better with each outing and now knocking on the door to big things. He looks something special.

Eales’ upbeat response to defeat is understandable. He was giving little chance, asked early questions of Sidcup’s Whale and emerged unscathed.

He said: “They offered more money just before Christmas when everyone’s skint. It showed me I’m better than I thought I was. I’m good enough to beat the top five in the country, all I need is the fitness. I’d only been in the gym for five weeks.

“I got the call 13-14 hours before the weigh in and thought, s*d it, I’ll give it a chance’ – I’ll fight any man on this planet. If you watch it back, the first couple of rounds were a cracking fight. He caught me with a body shot and it was downhill from there, but I was still trying to land those Hail Mary punches.”

Eales admitted: “He (Whale) was tougher than I thought. He’s tough, technically very good and composed. He knew if he could get through the early storm, I’d be in deep water and the water was deeper than I’d experienced before.”

What next for Eales, who has lost only twice? His desire for title opportunities seems stronger than ever.

He added: “Boxxer have said they’ll put me on another show. I could do with a win, they may put me in with a prospect as if I’m some sort of gatekeeper. It doesn’t matter.

“When you are 10 rounds ready, you are only one win away from titles.”

Eales pledged: “I’ll do this until the wheels fall off. This is just the beginning.”