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 eighteen months fighting on foreign shores.
The 30 year-old had never shied away from traveling to get the fights he wanted and has even fought as far afield 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, Ashley suffered his first major blow when losing a controversial points decision against Mauritius-born Judex Meemea in Hackey. Referee Ken Curtis gave fledgling pro-Meemea the six-round decision, along with his first victory in five professional contests, and left Theophane contemplating his first defeat.
Theophane returned to winning ways less than a month later, scoring a convincing four-round win over David Kehoe and following it up with another in June 2005 over Jus Wallie. Another blow was just around the corner, though, as referee Richie Davies saw Ashley’s next four-rounder favoring Lithuanian Oscar Milkitas later that year, and Ashley dropped to 9-2.
With his career in danger of delving into the realms of journeyman status, Ashley took just six weeks to score another two victories. Still, another controversial scoring decision saw him only handed a draw in early 2006 with 46-loss Daniel Thorpe. Theophane would then leave the UK for this first time, disillusioned by some bad refereeing decisions scoring his fights, flying to Germany, where he would score his first stoppage in almost two years over Josef Holub in Sachsen.
Theophane returned to the UK rejuvenated and reeled off three victories on British soil before returning to Germany for two more solid wins, including his first twelve-rounder against Omar Saia in Berlin, which Theophane ended in the eleventh.
That six-fight unbeaten run earned Ashley a British title eliminator against former English champion Alan Bosworth in January 2007, ironically on the undercard of future opponent Lenny Daws losing his Lonsdale belt to Barry Morrison the Alexandra Palace.
Ashley showed how much he had improved since his two losses, scoring a seventh-round stoppage over “Bozzy” to claim a shot at new champion Morrison. Ten months of waiting and the British title shot failed to materialize, so Ashley signed up for the Saint Lucia bout before a routine stoppage of Rocky Muscas at the York Hall gave Theophane his fourth straight TKO.
In early 2008, Ashley was offered the opportunity to fight in the USA against former French champion Ali Oubaali. Ashley has called his ‘toughest fight,’ he just came up short in a ten-rounder in Connecticut. Theophane was a much better fighter for the experience, though, and his third career loss would only spur him on more significant things.
Geoffrey Monika was duly dispatched in mid-2008 as Ashley won every round against the Kenyan at York Hall before receiving another call from America. Ashley’s showing against Oubaali had caught the eyes of the US promoters, and an offer he couldn’t turn down was given to him a month later: a chance to meet former WBO champion DeMarcus Corley in New York.
34-year-old Corley was on the back of taking future unified champion Devon Alexander the full twelve rounds and was still the favorite in the bout with Theophane. Ashley looked a lot fresher than the former champion, who had not aged well in boxing terms after some tough fights.
Theophane took the bout to “Chop Chop” and produced his best performance yet, dominating the former champion, taking a unanimous decision on all three cards. Ashely’s stock in America had risen considerably, giving him a title-contending reputation in The States.
In two minds where to base himself, Ashley decided to return to the UK, and another three convincing points victories, all at the York Hall, followed. They led him into his toughest test yet in February 2010, as another chance to showcase his talent in the United States was on the table.
His opponent, Danny Garcia, would be the most promising 140-pound prospect in the US. He was 15-0 and was on the back of his greatest win to date. The 21-year-old had just pulverized Mexican former WBC International lightweight champion Enrique Colin in two rounds, knocking him down twice in the process, and was looking for another victim.
Ashley was far from it and pushed the youngster all the way, becoming the first man to take the world title prospect the full ten rounds and, on one judge’s card, was given the fight 95-94. Though the other two scored the bout in favor of the unbeaten Garcia, the split-decision victory went to the Philadelphian.
It was yet another reputation-enhancing showing by the Londoner, though and his stake in America was now at an all-time high. Ashley had now based himself in the US full-time. However, an offer to fight in Germany in June was not passed up. He defeated German-based Afghan Harasch Hotaki to claim the vacant IBO International welterweight title, his career’s first ranking title.
Theophane would be allowed back to the USA to top the bill on a major American card at the Buffalo Run Casino in Oklahoma. His opponent was Dominican former IBF title challenger Delvin Rodriguez (25-4-2). Ashley proved how much he had learned against Garcia, coming out on the right end of a tight decision this time.
Although his standing in the US was at an all-time high, Ashley returned to the UK on his management’s advice to enhance his reputation in his home country. A one-sided victory over tough Northern Irishman Willie Thompson in October last year led Theophane into his defining night on British soil.
Lenny Daws was inked to defend the Lonsdale Belt he had regained in a rematch with Barry Morrison in 2009 for the third time against Ashley at Wembley Arena earlier this year. 32-year-old Daws went into the bout as a favorite, as not many of the British fans knew who Ashley Theophane was.
After waiting over four years for his shot after winning the eliminator in January 2007, Ashley had something to prove. The bout was closely contested, but Ashley just had the edge in terms of quality and put the bout beyond doubt with two knockdowns in the ninth round. The judges’ scorecards, 115-111, 115-111, 115-112 after twelve rounds, proved decisive, and Theophane was the new British light-welterweight champion.
With a record of 29-4-1 and an excellent standing in both the UK and the US, Ashley has the boxing world at his feet, with boxers on both sides of the Atlantic aiming for a shot at the “Treasure.” With a ranking of 16 with the WBC, 14 with the IBF, and 13 with the IBO, a world title shot is just a couple of wins away for the Lonsdale Belt holder, who has chiseled himself into a true title-class operator.
The Ashley Theophane story is ready for its next installment….
ASHLEY THEOPHANE – 12 ROUNDS
1. How did you first get into boxing, Ashley?
I watched the big fights in the US with my father on TV, and I really enjoyed it. My father would get me videos of all the great fighters, and I wanted to try it out. I was taken down to the All-Stars gym in Paddington, and the rest is history.
2. What was your amateur record?
My amateur record was half and half. It was nothing special, but I was always told I had a pro style, which seems to be the case.
3. Who influenced you as a young boxer?
As a young boxer, I was first influenced by Mike Tyson, as watching him knock out his opponents made me want to try and do the same.
Lloyd Honeygan, Kirkland Laing, and Nigel Benn influenced me from a British point of view. They went to America and conquered, which is what I wanted to do.
4. Toughest opponent you have faced?
Ali Ouballi is the toughest man I have faced. I learned a lot in that fight. My corner and the doctor wanted to throw in the towel, and I begged the ref to let me carry on. I took over from the halfway stage as I normally do. I just left it too late, but it was a great learning fight.
5. Who would you want to fight in the future?
In the future, I would love to fight Andre Berto, Victor Ortiz, Lamont Peterson, Paul Malignaggi, and Randall Bailey. Big fights in the US are what drive me on.
6. Favourite all-time fight?
My favorite all-time fight is maybe Marvin Hagler vs. John Mugabi. I love how Hagler broke him down.
7. Best fight you have seen live?
The best fight I’ve seen live is probably Hatton vs. Tszyu. That was an all-out war.
8. What is your target for 2011?
My target for 2011 is to defend my British Title and get nearer to a World title shot.
9. What’s your motivation?
My motivation is to be the best I can be. I don’t want to look back at my career in ten years and think about what could have been, so I try to make the most of it while I’m here.
I want very few regrets.
10. What would you change in Boxing?
In British boxing, I would change the referee scoring the fight, and in worldwide boxing, I would want the world rankings to be fairer.
11. Mayweather or Pacquiao?
Floyd Mayweather all day. He has too much for Pacquiao, but he has been out of the ring for a long time, which helps Paciquao’s chances. I think Manny should take the tests so that boxing fans worldwide can witness a great fight. (Mayweather now leads 8-1 in the series)
12. And finally… tell us something we don’t know about Ashley Theophane.
I’m a great cake baker!
Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, experienced boxing writer, and World Boxing News Editor. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
