THE TEN COUNT WITH BRITISH CHAMPION ASHLEY 'TREASURE' THEOPHANE
1. You won your fight against former European & IBO champion Jason Cook in spectacular fashion at Wembley Arena on 23rd July. Did your strategy go to plan?
My UK coach Dave Brown and I felt that Jason wouldn't be able to last until the twelve round and we were right. I was in great shape. I worked a month at Gleason's gym in Brooklyn with my US trainers Jihad Abdul Aziz and Harry Keit then Dave polished everything up over the last three weeks.
2. Who is next for you, in Britain?
Nigel Wright is the English champion and number one contender. So he is next! I would love to go to Aberdeen, Scotland and fight Commonwealth champion Lee McAllister in front of his fans. That would be a good fight.
3. What about World amateur champion Frankie Gavin?
Frankie's last three fights have been at Welterweight but judging by his last three performances. He is far from ready for me and I think Frank Warren knows this. How are you going to struggle with an ex footballer and expect to beat a World class fighter like Ashley Theophane. Don't be shocked when I knock him out when we eventually fight.
I need a rival in Britain so hopefully he can improve enough to give me a classic fight. I crave to be in a trilogy with someone.
I would be willing to give Lenny Daws a rematch when he is ready to get back in the ring. I wish him the best other than getting a result against me.
4. Who is your hero?
My mother is my hero and my Inspiration.
My life and upbringing has been no different to any person born and raised in the inner city. My life could be very different to what it is today and my mother more than anyone else has stood by me and supported me when maybe she shouldn't of.
5. How do you unwind?
I normally go to a Spa for a pampering session. The full works. That's how I unwind or after a fight I try go on holiday for a couple weeks and relax. When I'm training for a fight I push myself to my limit. So I need to take time out and let my body recuperate. Training 25 to 30 hours a week is not easy but somebodies got to do it.
6. What's your secret to success?
Work hard, perseverance and dedication. With those three things you are guaranteed to get the best out of yourself, which will gain you success as an end result.
I wasn't born the best fighter in the World or the most talented but I work hard and kept at it when no one and I mean no one believed I could achieve what I have achieved.
Being happy is an important thing to me so every decision I make in my career and my personal life comes with that in mind. Negative people and negativity have no place in my life.
Believe and you can achieve.
7. What's your most deplorable trait?
My tunnel vision and I'm not a great team player but that's because I've always had to depend on myself. If it's not broke don't try to fix it.
I'm happy with the way I am. I love who I am and I wouldn't change for nobody.
Accept me for me or jog on.
8. What do you fear most?
I fear failure. That's why I give my all. As long as I give my all I wouldn't have failed. I don't want to have regrets when I finish boxing. So far I have none as with every negative aspect, something positive came out of it.
9. What's the secret to good health?
Eating healthy and staying in shape. My body is my work tools so I treat it like a formula 1 racing car. I want to get the best out of my body so I treat it with love and respect. Quality foods, vitamins, minerals, manicures, pedicures, massages and facials help me maintain great health and I get the results in the ring. So its worthwhile!
10. What are your biggest wins to date?
Demarcus Corley was a former World champion and had fought modern greats Miguel Cotto and Floyd Mayweather Jr. That win proved to me I was World class as Corley had just lost to WBC no.1 and future World champ Devon Alexander before he fought me and straight after me he lost to IBF World no. 5 Randall Bailey.
Delvin Rodriguez was a great win for me. I stepped up in weight for that fight. Rodriguez had just dropped a split decision for the World title a few months beforehand and he was ranked 3rd in the World. I got ranked 4th in the World after that win.
Since then Rodriguez has come back with a great performance against Pawel Wolak up at 154lbs.
Beating Alan Boswoth in a British Title eliminator put me on the map in Britain in 2007 and beating British Champion Lenny Daws 4 years later was the icing on the cake.
With all these fights I was the underdog with the bookies and boxing experts. I always believed I had World class ability but I seemed to be the only one who believed that. Everything I have achieved to date has been without a promoter and I've been self managed for majority of my career so I'm very proud of the fact I've achieved so much against the odds.
I'm half way through my boxing career and I have much more in the tank.
My future is bright, my future is filled with Treasure.
British champion Ashley 'Treasure' Theophane will be making an appearance on Miranda Carter's Great Expectation show. Sunday 18th September at York Hall, Bethnal Green.