Chasing Your Dreams in Vegas

Posted By Treasure / September, 16, 2014 / 0 comments

New Ashley

 

Floyd Mayweather claimed his 47th win against Marcos Maidana at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

“Mayhem” was a massive event just like all Floyd Mayweather’s fights have become. It’s not just a fight but an event, and a global event at that.

Stars from the world of sports, film, music and fashion fly into Las Vegas just to watch Floyd fight.

Fight week started with fighter arrivals on Tuesday, Floyd had his final press conference on Wednesday.  Thursday was the undercard press conference, with fan workouts and autograph signing, and a screening at Bleacher’s madhouse for the fans in the evening.  Friday was the weigh in, where Rick Ross took the stage to entertain the 10,000 strong crowd before Floyd and Marcos Maidana took centre stage.

new ashley two I was seated next to Badou Jack and Ishe Smith, just behind Danny Garcia and Adrien Broner. I was surrounded by world champions and boxing legends. Danny Jacobs, Peter Quillen, Evander Holyfield and Paul Williams, who is now disabled after a motorcycle crash, and boxing legends Erik Morales and Sergio Martinez.

Who would have thought that I’d be rubbing shoulders with these guys who now know me by name, and show me respect.  That makes me so proud.  “Work so hard that your idols become your rivals” comes to mind.

 

Rival, the Canadian based boxing equipment provider, had a shop opening in Las Vegas. I headed down there with Badou and former world champion, Lou DeValle. Sugar Ray Leonard, Lennox Lewis, Hasim Rahman, Roy Jones, Jean Pascal, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad all turned up for the opening.  Great company once again.

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On Saturday morning I went to the Boxing Fan Expo to sign autographs and take photos with the fans. The event was jam packed with boxing legends and champions; Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson, Evander Holifield, Roy Jones Junior, to name but a few of them.

At 4:30pm I was at ringside to do a live interview with Steve Illis for BoxNation who are televising the Mayhem card in the UK. I was asked for my views and predictions for the fight – I believed Floyd could get a knockout win.  I was also asked what it was like to be signed up by Floyd Mayweather.

I’m a kid from a neglected part of London where crime is sky high, unemployment numbers keep rising and the aspirations of the tenants are gutter high. I’m not supposed to be in Las Vegas. I’m not supposed to be with Floyd Mayweather. My life, my journey has hopefully inspired kids from similar backgrounds to myself to chase their own dreams.  Some people criticise me for achieving this. Some people are just never happy regardless of what you achieve.

Successful and important people from sports, media, music, fashion, business and politics have commended me on my journey to date, and that is pleasing.  It’s easy to be just a statistic from where I’m from but I have the huge pleasure and privilege of having an employer by the name of Floyd Mayweather.

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Mike Tyson inspired me to become a boxer, watching him on TV as a five year old. Roy Jones Junior astonished me with his ‘special effects’ talents as a teenager. Floyd Mayweather showed me that with hard work and dedication anything is possible. Floyd’s motto has gotten me to be where I am in life.

I’m not a champion yet, but no one ever believed I would even be a contender. I appreciate every day that I spend in Las Vegas under the guidance of Floyd. I won’t hear a bad word said about him. This is a man who gets nothing from seeing me do well. He’s told me if I need anything just ask. He gave me my highest grossing fight purse and put me on the biggest PPV boxing show ever. I see day in day out during camp the lives he touches and the people in need he helps. Everyone I know who knows him values him as a person, it’s people who don’t know him that make ill-judged comments regarding him.

You can’t please everyone but everyone who knows him, appreciates him.

Floyd mentioned both Manny Paciquao and Amir Khan in his post fight press conference. Maybe one of them will fight him next May or September.

Mayweather promotions got its second world champion on Floyd’s “Mayhem” card. Mickey Bey beat the number one lightweight champion. Miguel Vasquez held the title for five years and had only lost to Saul Alvarez and Timothy Bradley. That was a great win and I’m proud of Mickey.

I finished fight week with Floyd at his mothers’ house. Celebrities, family and friends attended. Great atmosphere with good people.

Another Floyd Mayweather training camp is over. In 12 months’ time he’ll be having his last fight. He will be missed when he’s gone. There’s never been an athlete to do the numbers or make the amount of money he has.

They criticise you when you’re active but they will miss you when you are gone.

Long Live Floyd Mayweather!

 

The Best of Times

Posted By Treasure / September, 9, 2014 / 0 comments

 

Ashley David Haye

Floyd Mayweather was on very good form this week, sparring between 12 and 15 rounds in a day. He is looking much better than he did for the first fight with Marcos Maidana. He is hitting harder and the unique skills and speed maintain intact. This is a man who has been a professional for 18 years and a champion for 17 of those years.

 

12am – 6am workouts, really long sessions. Everyone watching Floyd gets tired and is in danger of falling asleep but this man is more than energetic. He works non-stop, pushing himself harder and harder, without limits. I do believe a knock out win is possible this time. Maidana can’t change much of his game plan but Floyd can, and will.

 

My intense training camp for my fight is now over, so I can for a change sit back, relax and take the time to learn from a modern great. Whilst Floyd is working out he will still find the time to dish out advice to his fighters on what he believes we need to work on to become even better fighters.

 

His motivational and authentic message to all of us – “I’m with you through the good and the bad times”.

 

Ashley Appreciation Dinner

On Saturday we attended the Floyd Mayweather appreciation dinner celebration. We dined outside listening to some of the biggest bands of the 1990s performing live and brilliantly. R & B superstar, Tank, was the host of the event. He did a first class job. I’m pretty sure he could have also been a decent comedian as his side gig if he chose to. Afterwards the celebration continued inside the hotel in Lake Las Vegas.

 

On Sunday we had a BBQ at a local park, kids had entertainment and The Money Team played baseball against Las Vegas little league team who had just returned from playing in the World Series. It was great fun, with everyone coming together.

 

Another Floyd Mayweather training camp is coming to an end. One more week to go. He will be missed in the gym, as he won’t be back until next March for his fight in May 2015. The atmosphere is never the same when he isn’t there, but the show must go on, all the fighters continue to work hard to be the best they can be.

 

Ashley R&B

Next week will see the city of Las Vegas come alive. The fighter arrivals, press conference, fan workout and autograph signing, the weigh in, fight night – all followed by celebration parties around the city.

 

This is the fifth Floyd Mayweather camp I’ve had the privilege and pleasure to witness first hand, and the third as a member of Mayweather Promotions.

 

I’m still as impressed, inspired and motivated as I was when I first witnessed him workout back in 2012, when he was preparing for his fight with Miguel Cotto.

 

“Tough Times Don’t Last. Tough People Do.”

 

 

 

 

 

BIRTHDAY DELIGHT

Posted By Treasure / September, 1, 2014 / 0 comments

Ashley win

 

I turned professional back in the autumn of 2002, but I didn’t make my professional debut until the following summer of 2003. I had to wait 8 long months for the opportunity. The four big promoters in the UK at the time were not interested in taking a chance on me; Mick Hennessey, Frank Warren, Frank Maloney and Barry Hearn all passed on me.

Years later it would make me feel good when it was pointed out to me that I had surpassed all the British fighters in my weight category that they had signed.

Serendipity would strike again when they would all offer me a promotional deal after I had climbed the world ladder, getting ranked fourth in the world and becoming British champion.

Determination, hard work and dedication got me signed by Mayweather Promotions. Whatever I go on to achieve, it will mean that much more to me as I know I did it against the odds.

Floyd Mayweather, the number one boxer in the world and the world’s richest sportsman gave me the platform I’ve dreamt about my whole life. As a 7 year old kid I watched Mike Tyson fight in Las Vegas, now I rub shoulders with the fighters I looked up to then. Roy Jones Jr. and Mike Tyson are two of my favourite fighters – they are now associates of mine.

43 fights, 36 victories, 6 losses and 1 draw. By the end of next year it is possible that I’ll have 40 victories. That is a landmark I am chasing as much as the big pay checks and world title fights. In life you have to have goals that keep you focused and hungry.

The third richest person in the world, Warren Buffet, worth a staggering $56 billion and John Landis, producer of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ were in the gym this week to watch Floyd work out. Every training camp that Floyd has, a who’s who of business, sport and entertainment walk through the doors of the Mayweather Boxing Club.

You always have to remember who believed in you when no one else did. Everyone believes in you or wants to be your friend when you’re “The Man”. The people who are there for you and believe in you when you have nothing are the people to truly cherish.

What someone regards as success and achievements is different for all of us. You have your personal goals that you are pushing for. You know what you are capable of or what you feel you can achieve. It’s can be a very negative world, where people thrive on other people’s sadness and unhappiness. Imagine what people could achieve if they actually helped someone worse off than them? I’ve met people in my life, who helped me when I was expelled from high school, showed me kindness and all they wanted was for me to achieve my potential. Then I’ve met René Carayol who believed I could go from British Champion to the world scene and in the process inspire a generation of forgotten kids, who just like me where and are not supposed to achieve anything in life. Who are just supposed to be statistics on the government’s database?

I told René Carayol, I wanted to be part of The Money Team. I told him I believed I was good enough to get signed by Mayweather Promotions. He gave me the resources to make my dream a reality.

I pushed myself day in and day out to make the grade. 18 months have now passed from that moment and I’ve now been signed to Floyd Mayweather’s promotional outfit for 13 months. I feel blessed and humbled to be a part of Floyd’s team.

I still remember what my goals where as a 22 year old professional fighter. I’ve now achieved it! Now the dream has become bigger. There is no limit on what I can achieve.

Being around men like Floyd Mayweather, Leonard Ellerbe and René Carayol has made me see that. They all believe in me and have helped me push myself to greater heights. I will continue to push myself into unknown and uncomfortable environments. That is where your greatness can be found.

Everything I achieve is a reflection of the hard work my mum instilled in me. She gave birth to Ashley Treasure on August 30th and

Winning on my birthday. The 36th time as a professional is very gratifying indeed.

Every day away from home is one day closer to my goal.

Thank you to everyone who has helped and supported me on my journey.

 

TEAM TREASURE

Posted By Treasure / August, 24, 2014 / 0 comments

Ashley Aug 30

Team Treasure

Palms Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas on Saturday 30th August 2014 is the date of my next fight, which I assure you will be my 36th victory of a career spanning 11 years and 43 professional fights. I’m closing in on my 40th win, but more importantly, a world title shot.

I will turn a young 34 years of age on fight night. It’s been a long and hard journey during my professional career. It certainly hasn’t gotten easier, I’ve just gotten better and more experienced.

As Dmitriy Salita told me on Sunday, “You will be world champion.” Olympic Bronze medallist, Nate Jones, had said the same thing to me the day before.

Floyd Mayweather has been a professional for 18 years, so my 11 years in comparison leaves me with many more glorious years ahead of me. Floyd is 37, Bernard Hopkins is 49 and Juan Manuel Marquez is 41, these three fighters are kings, legends and elder statesmen of boxing.

I have fought some of the best fighters of my era from across the world; world champion DeMarcus Corley, Commonwealth champion Craig Docherty, world champion Danny Garcia, two time world title challenger Delvin Rodriguez,  British champion Lenny Daws, European champion Jason Cook and two time world title challenger Pablo Cesar Cano. That’s an impressive line-up of quality fighters that have all achieved at different levels.

Floyd has been stepping up his own training and putting in some truly amazing work. Watching this man train so excruciatingly hard, makes me push myself harder and harder. There can be no excuse when you see the best fighter in the world pushing himself to be the best he can be.

Fight week is here, just the last few pounds to drop. Everything is on target. I’ve kept up the intense sparring sessions, I’ve passed my target running miles, strength conditioning has been up to point as always, with weekly massages to refresh and revitalise my body where 100% effort is needed. I’m all set and ready to go out there and get win 36. Nothing will get in my way of making that a reality. Las Vegas has become my home away from home.

Dave Brown, my UK trainer from All Stars Boxing Club in London arrived on Sunday, he will help Nate Jones with my final week of preparations. My NYC trainer from Gleason’s Gym, Harry Keitt, will arrive on Thursday to finalise my team. With both these men I’ve achieved a fair and decent amount; IBF world number 4, British and IBO international champion. I’ve fought around the world including Germany, Luxembourg, St Lucia, England and America with my team.

There’s only so much one man can do, but Floyd Mayweather, Leonard Ellerbe and René Carayol have made it possible for me to have the most comfortable camp possible in the harshest of conditions.

My coaching staff all have a job to do and it gets done to the professional standard we are accustomed to. Together we are the ‘A’ Team. Team Treasure has come far but the next level is the super fights, the world championship and of course, the big names.

Every fighter has their own team in the Mayweather Boxing Club and it’s nice that other fighter’s teams tell me that I’m the hardest working fighter in the gym (minus Floyd of course). I’m not the most skilled or the strongest, but I’ve come all the way from London, England bringing my determination and will to win. I’ve come here to work and give my all. I’ve got the best mentor in the fight game, Floyd Mayweather.

The gym is stacked (and blessed) with experience at the highest level of our sport. Former world champions in Cornelius Boza Edwards, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Roger Mayweather and Lou DeValle. We have a great and world class team of coaches and fighters. Everyone working flat out and hard but still finding the time to support one another.

Even though we are all on our own personal journeys, we all wish each other the best – and mean it.

Protect yourself at all times!

“Treasure the love you receive above all, it will survive long after your gold and good health have vanished” – Og Mandino

Nevada Hall of Fame 2014

Posted By Treasure / August, 19, 2014 / 0 comments

Ashley

Nevada Hall of Fame 2014

 

Carl Froch is without doubt one of Great Britain’s most accomplished champions. He stated this week that if his proposed fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in Las Vegas falls through, then he will consider retirement as a James DeGale fight in the United Kingdom just doesn’t motivate him or add to his legacy.

Carl has done everything a fighter can do in boxing. He’s been a world champion multiple times, made millions of pounds from the sport and has fought the very best of his era, often having to travel to their backyard. Very few British world champions have fought the level of competition Carl has. I firmly believe he deserves to go out with one last mega fight in the fight capital of the world, Las Vegas.

Mayweather Promotions employee, Cornelius ‘Boza’ Edwards, is a former Commonwealth champion who made his debut in London before going on to fight in Italy, Monaco, Zambia, France, New York and Las Vegas. He went on to win the WBC world title and fought boxing greats like, Alexis Arguello, Jose Luis Ramirez, Hector Camacho and Bobby Chacon. He retired with a record of 45 win and 7 loses.

Floyd Mayweather is always praising him as a former world champion and appreciates all the work he does for the team. As I told Boza this week, I’d be more than happy to have a glittering boxing career like his. I believe he is seriously under appreciated by the British boxing scene. He is definitely appreciated by the American boxing scene, he guaranteed excitement every time he ducked through the ropes.

This Saturday he was a guest of honour for the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame evening at the Tropicana hotel in Las Vegas. He was inducted along with boxing greats such as Roberto Duran, Evander Holyfield and Richard Steele.

Floyd won Best Fighter of the Year for the second time in a row. Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Earnie Shavers, Mike McCallum, Kevin Kelley, DeMarcus Corley, Bermain Silvestre, Shawn Porter and Jessie Vargas where all in attendance. Being amongst some of the world’s best fighters and boxing legends just reminds me how far I’ve actually come. I’m a kid from Paddington, London, who had a dream and just worked hard to make it happen.

Floyd introduced ‘Boza’ and said he valued him as a mentor and a man whose opinion he values. I’m privileged to be in the company of both of these legends every day during training camp.

You can never take for granted what you have, as there are people out there in the world who would give anything to be in your shoes. I give my all, all the time, be it in training or fights.

Boxers rarely come from anything but humble beginnings. Why else would you choose one of the hardest sports in the world to make something out of your life?

My college teachers begged me to go to University, but I was of the view that I didn’t need a degree for what I wanted to be in life. I had an idea and a dream of what I wanted to accomplish in my head, and I set out determined to achieve it. Has it been easy? No! Has it been worthwhile? I’d say yes. I’d do everything exactly the same again, because every set back served a purpose and it lead me to where I am now. Signed by the number one team in the world – Mayweather Promotions.

I’m about to have my third fight in less than twelve months in the fight capital of the world. Mayweather Promotions have given me the unique opportunity that many fighters dream of. I’ve recently had two British Olympic Gold medallists ask about how they could work with Mayweather Promotions.

A fighter at Mayweather Boxing Club was joking this week that all of the fighters signed by Floyd will one day be reminiscing with their grandchildren about the ‘good old days’ with Floyd Mayweather.

I’m currently privileged to watch greatness close up day in day out. One day I will reflect back and remember these halcyon days in Las Vegas, just as Muhammad Ali’s team reminisce about the unforgettable times they spent with him.

You cannot go back in time and correct your mistakes, but you can work hard to learn from them and make a better future.

There is three weeks to go until I collect my thirty sixth victory and move a step closer to being on the big stage again.

On occasion I’m reminded that I’m a former British, IBO International and world number four. Some remember that I’ve fought in America, St Lucia, Germany, Luxembourg and England. And the records show that I’ve had great fights with the likes of Danny Garcia, DeMarcus Corley, Delvin Rodriguez and Pablo Cesar Cano.

I’m currently signed to Mayweather Promotions with glorious days ahead of me.

 

 

 

Hopes and Dreams

Posted By Treasure / August, 4, 2014 / 0 comments

 

August 1st marked the first anniversary of my signing with Mayweather Promotions – a special moment for me. The last year was not one that anyone could have predicted, but it was the opportunity I have been working towards for many years now.

The past 12 months has seen me fight on two massive Floyd Mayweather shows. “The One” which broke all the all-time boxing box office records and “The Moment”. Both in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand. I also picked up a victory along the way in Shelton, Washington.

This week saw the WBC number one heavyweight contender, Bryant Jennings and super middleweight king, Andre Ward, stop by the gym to watch the boss, Floyd Mayweather train for his upcoming title defence against Marcos Maidana. Some NBA stars where also in the gym to watch the world’s best go at it.

Four weeks to go until my fourth fight in under twelve months with Mayweather Promotions. 30th August is my birthday AND the date I aim to claim my 36th victory during my eleven year professional career.

Mayweather Boxing Club is busting with quality sparring from lightweight all the way up to super middleweight – it’s highly competitive but also a team.

Over the next three weeks I’ll be sparring the likes of Mickey Bey, who challenges for the IBF 135lb title on September 13th, Said Ouali, Lanardo Tyner, Cortez Bey, Chavis Holifield and Zach Cooper.

With respective 140lb world champions Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson both due to fight in separate bouts on August 16th, then if victorious, they will clash at the end of the year in a unification match. It’s highly unlikely that I will get the opportunity to challenge for the 140lb championship until spring next year at the very earliest.

But the 140lb division is packed with some of the best fighters in boxing; Lucas Mattyhsse, Adrien Broner, Ruslan Provodnikov, Mauricio Herrera, Humberto Soto and John Molina, are just some of the big name contenders in the division.

Any one of these fighters could be a world champion on any given day.

Our reality is a product of our dreams, decisions and actions – there is no one else to blame, but many to thank along the way.

 

Prodigal Son

Posted By Treasure / July, 29, 2014 / 0 comments

 

I’m now back in Las Vegas, the city of sin, in the land of opportunity. It was great to be home, but it’s just as good to be back at the gym.

This is my fourth training camp as a Mayweather Promotions fighter.

The nine weeks I’ve just spent back home in London, informed me that the hard work and sacrifices I have had to make, leaving my friends and family back in the UK, in order to make the most of my ability in the fight capital of the world – is well appreciated.

Kids and adults alike have shared with me how much they feel that I’m an inspiration to them. This is humbling and I’ll never forget the responsibility I have to those on their way up or less fortunate than I am.

Some kids have been asking me “which hand I use to shake Floyd Mayweather’s hand?” Then asking if I can shake their hand with that same hand. Unforgettable!

Mickey Bey, JLeon Love and Ishe Smith all have big fights coming up. The boss, will be fighting Marcos Maidana in a rematch. I watched him spar this week and he was super sharp. I’ve seen Floyd prepare for Miguel Cotto, Robert Guerrero, Saul Alvarez and Marcos Maidana. This is the fifth time I’ve had the pleasure to watch and learn from his greatness.

Speaking to former world champion, Cornelius Boza Edwards, we both agree that when Floyd retires, he will be so missed. No one gets paid that colossal amount of money if they are not really special.

Before joining Mayweather Promotions, I had already beaten a world number three fighter that the Puerto Rican great, Miguel Cotto fought after I had defeated him. I had reigned as the British champion, beating former World, Commonwealth, English and African champions through my career. All this without a promoter – I can now say, I’ve done alright. But Floyd saw more in me.

He wants to help me fulfil my true potential and win a world title and beating some big boxing names in the process. Floyd has shared with me the boxing stars he believes I can beat. This is a great feeling, but it is still a little strange to have an all-time great fighter say “I believe in you”.

I used to watch Floyd Mayweather and Leonard Ellerbe on television, now I am working with them.

For many years, I was on my own, with just myself to count on. Now I’m on the number one boxing team in the world.

My first week back in Las Vegas, I jumped straight in the deep end. Sparring and Mount Charleston run where on the agenda, I dropped 9.8lbs this week. The temperature is high and the altitude is suffocating.

This will be my 43rd professional fight. Win 36 is coming up! After this win I’ll be the number one British 140lb fighter as Amir Khan has now moved up to the 147lb division.

Everlast, Real water, Swelterwear, Vitabiotics, High5 nutrition and Boxfit UK have all come on board as partners, to help me make this camp run smooth.

I’m laser focused and closing in on a world title shot, it could happen by the end of the year.

The struggle you feel today is the strength you feel tomorrow.

 

Wimbledon Games Party #WTA

Posted By Treasure / June, 23, 2014 / 0 comments

Posted By Treasure / June, 23, 2014 / 0 comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haringey Box Cup

Posted By Treasure / June, 23, 2014 / 0 comments

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