'I want the Lonsdale for keeps,' says Ashley Sexton
Ashley 'Flash Ash' Sexton will box Shinny Bayaar for the British flyweight title on May 14th at the Goresbrook Leisure Centre in Dagenham, Essex. Coming off the back of his breathtaking KO victory over Usman Ahmed in January, Sexton 9-0 (5 KOs) will be looking to add the British belt to the English title he won that night.
Southpaw Bayaar 14-1-4 (4 KOs) represents a huge step up in class for the 22-year-old Cheshunt fighter. Holding a win over current Commonwealth champion Chris Edwards, Bayaar is undefeated in over four years and should prove a big test for Sexton in only his tenth professional bout.
"I'm so pleased," said Sexton.
"Most British fighters, it's always their goal to win the British title and have a chance at winning the Lonsdale belt and that's one of the ultimate goals for me, apart from winning the world title, I want the Lonsdale belt for keeps.
"And to fight Shinny Bayaar, who's one of the most established fighters other than Chris Edwards at Flyweight, obviously is a big challenge for me, it's another step up but the way I feel, it's a winnable fight and I fancy myself to stop him within the first eight rounds."
Sexton will be competing over the twelve round championship distance for the first time in his life, having previously never gone beyond six rounds, with several ten round bouts ending in early KO victories.
"It's a massive step up" added Sexton.
"Obviously, he's done it numerous occasions, Chris Edwards does it every fight, but it's just something that you don't know how well you do it until you finally do it.
"It's all about the training and preparation I think, which is something that I'm really focusing on. I've got eight weeks tomorrow and I've already been training for three weeks so I'm at a good level of fitness now.
"In eight weeks time I'll be another level."
Should Sexton add the British strap to his waist on May 14th, another big fight for him would be a showdown with Commonwealth champion Chris Edwards, who lost a close fight to Bayaar in October last year.
"That's who I want to fight because I want to fight the best," explained Sexton.
"I don't care if I'm fighting in Stoke on a Hatton Promotion or fighting in London on a Maloney, as long as I'm getting the fight .
"I know I can travel, I've boxed in Stoke twice on the undercard of Chris Edwards so it wouldn't really change me going up there. So that is a fight I'd like."
Elsewhere, full undercard details for the Maloney Promotion are still to be announced, but already confirmed are two of the biggest hitting heavyweight prospects in Britain - Larry Olubamiwo 7-1(6K0) and Tom Dallas 9-0 (7KO).
