Ashley inducted into Int’l Boxing Hall of Fame

Alicia ‘Slick’ Ashley, Jamaica’s most decorated female boxer, was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHF) at Canastota, New York, on Sunday, along with five other boxers who, like her, have won several world titles in their illustrious careers.

During her career of 24 wins, 12 losses and one draw, she won the International Boxing Federation featherweight and super bantamweight titles, the World Boxing Council Super bantamweight title twice, the North American Boxing Federation super bantamweight title, and also had successful title defences.

The other boxers inducted were Tim Bradley Jr from the USA, Carl Froch from Britain and Mexicans Rafael Marquez and Laura Serrano. She is the second Jamaican boxer to be inducted into the IBHF after Mike ‘The Body Snatcher’ McCallum, who was inducted in 2003.

Parade of Champions

On Sunday, there was the Parade of Champions which saw all the inductees, as well as former boxing greats being shown off in a motorcade through the downtown district of Canastota. This was followed by the induction ceremony, which was hosted by celebrity ring announcer Jimmy Lennon.

Serrano did not attend the presentation ceremony, so Ashley was the sole female representative, and her well-crafted acceptance speech was warmly applauded by the large crowd that turned out for the ceremony.

Ashley pointed to the fact that her first goal in life was to be a professional dancer like her father, but that dream died because of what she called a “devastating and and life altering injury”. She said that she “ pivoted and eventually fell into boxing”, but never thought that she would have a career in the sport. She pointed out the she “started boxing at 28 turned pro at 32 and no promoter would take a chance on representing me, feeling that my career would be short-lived since most boxers retired at the age that I was starting my professional career.”

That did not deter her, however, she stated. She took the unconventional route, she said, “travelling the world as an underdog” and fought in places where crowds were hostile. She said that the road she took to get to the top “was akin to climbing Mount Everest. There were twists and turns, hills and treacherous elements along the way”, but she persevered.

She paid tribute to her family, especially her parents Thelma and Frank, her late grandmother Irma and Uncle Earl. She regarded her mother as “a rock star who even though she refused to see me fight, gave me her full support in every way possible”.

She also pointed to the contributions to her success of her various trainers, especially her oldest brother and first trainer Devon Cormack and Hector Roca who passed earlier this year. Her husband Matthieu was praised for his work as her strength coach, especially in helping her to unlock her punching power, which she said became necessary when injuries compromised her mobility, which was always one of her strengths.

Liugi Olcese, who became her manager 10 years into her career, came in for special praise, as he was the one she said who was instrumental in getting her into the New York market and positioning her for the successes she achieved late in her career. She was happy about the Guinness World Records of her being not only the oldest female world boxing champion, but also the oldest boxing champion, accolades that she said that she cherishes, as they show that age need not be a deterrent or a hindrance in life.