Ashley Sexton Sets New Sights

ASHLEY SEXTON is ready to shed the L plates and race to the British flyweight title. Flash Ash has had just three fights, but steps up to eight round class at Fenton Manor, Stoke on Friday. Sexton (3-0) hopes a win will catapult him towards a crack at the winner of the vacant British and Commonwealth title clash between Chris Edwards and Wayne Bloy which tops the bill. The Cheshunt kid has taken a hastily arranged fight against Fikret Remziev Kurdov at just four days notice. Sexton, 21, gets his chance because Mark Thompson has been forced to pull out of his final eliminator for the Commonwealth flyweight title against Philip Kotey because of a broken hand. Manager Mickey Helliet has already compared his man with Charlie Magri, who won the British eight stone title after just three fights in December 1977. Sexton won his first two professional contests on points, but in December showed he carried a decent dig stopping Georgian Levan Garibashvili in three rounds. As an amateur he won four national titles, and confidently predicts he'll taste more glory punching for pay. He said: "Because of my amateur experience and class of boxers I have mixed with, I feel really confident I can clean up the division in quick time. "I would like to fight the winner of Chris Edwards-Wayne Bloy if the British Boxing Board of Control would allow it." The all-action co-promotion with Impact Boxing also features another of Sexton's biggest rivals Paul Edwards. Among the local fighters on the bill are English lightweight champion Scott Lawton and heavyweight Alex Ibbs. Tickets for 'Stoking the Fire' which is being televised live by Sky Sports are selling fast and can be purchased by calling 0871 226 1508 or by logging on to www.frankmaloney.com. Prices £35 and £70.