By Dean Parr

Tonight, Cheshunt's 'Flash' Ash Sexton, 9-0 (five early), will challenge the tough Shinny Bayaar, 15-4-1 (4 early), for the British flyweight title.  The Paul Rees-trained fighter is coming off a huge KO win over Usman Ahmed, and this has instilled him with a massive amount of confidence going into his domestic title tilt.

“That was my fifth stoppage in nine fights, so I know I've got the power and I think that just woke everyone else up to it,” declared Ash.  “That made everyone else think I have the power, because Usman had never been down, let alone be stopped before and he went twelve hard rounds with Chris Edwards.”

“They basically went toe to toe for twelve rounds, so for me to hit him, and do that was good,” continued Sexton.  “Every time I hit him before that as well he looked like he was going to go, and that one obviously turned his lights out, but it's in the past now, and I've got to look forward and this is a big fight for me.  That's my main concern at the minute, and then hopefully there'll be another good stoppage against Shinny Bayaar.”

The confident 22-year-old is also sure that this win will lead to bigger and better things.  “If you look through the world ratings, there are guys in there that I know I'd beat a few fights down the line,” he asserted.  “It's just getting the fights to bring me on.  I don't think I'll stop learning, because there's always new stuff to take on board, and I'm still young.”

“I'm only 22, and just the other day, Hugo Cazares won the WBA super-flyweight title, and he's 32,” flowed 'Flash' Ash.  “These guys have got about ten years on me, and I'm already ten fights in.  By that time, I should be at about thirty or forty fights, and have the experience to get in with these people.  I'm hoping it happens a lot sooner though, and I'm talking about fighting for a world title in two years, but as long as I keep progressing the way I am, the sky's the limit.”

The current English Champion was also insistent that he's still learning his trade, and becoming a better fighter day by day.

“I'm still a novice, really,” he noted.  “I'm going the right way; I'm learning and getting the right sparring.  After this fight, we're looking to go to America and Mexico for some world class sparring, so I'm getting it from all angles.”

Indeed, Sexton has already come a long way considering he's only had nine professional contests, and he considers himself to be an all rounder.  “I think it's a combination of everything,” said Ash of the reason everything's come so fast to him.

“I had a big amateur career as well, so I've been around the block.  I can box my way, I can fight and I'm quite tough.  Sometimes, you get these guys that can do one or the other, and I wouldn't say I excel at anything, but I'm good at everything, so when you've got that you're covered from all angles.

“I could also be eleven rounds down going into the last one and knock someone out with one shot, and that always helps to have that kind of punch, because if people start getting careless and leaving themselves open and sticking their chin out, you can turn them off.  I'm quite happy with the way everything's progressing and my strengths are just what I do.  I've got my own style and my own way, and it seems to be working at the minute, so we're just going to keep working on that, getting the sparring in at it will come good.”

Visit http://www.frankmaloney.com for more information on tonight's card.  Sky Sports 1 and HD1 televise from 10pm.