BOXING prospect Ashton Sylve juggled the classroom with the school of hard knocks after turning professional at just 16.
But after eight wins, all knockouts and two more years under his belt, the young American is emerging as one of the hottest prospects in the game.
Ashton Sylve with Jake Paul
Ashton Sylve fights on Jake Paul’s undercard
So much so that he had Jake Paul and Floyd Mayweather battling it out to secure his signature after turning 18.
But it was Paul who got one over on unbeaten boxing icon Mayweather, signing Sylve to his Most Valuable Promotions.
And his journey continues over the weekend with a prime time co-headliner spot against Braulio Rodriguez, 34, of the Dominican Republic on the YouTuber-turned boxer’s fight with Anderson Silva.
Paul told SunSport: ”I’m excited, this is the first time he’s going to be on a big stage.
“The sky is the limit as he’s going to be the next star out of Most Valuable Promotions.”
If Paul is still learning on the job as a 5-0 novice, Sylve could feel like a young veteran, having had his first amateur bout at the age of eight.
He would go on to have over 120 contests in the unpaid ranks, becoming a 10x national champ, with two international honours to his name.
An Olympic dream could have also been realised – had the wait for the next Games not been so long.
Jake Paul vs Anderson Silva: Ring walk time, live stream, TV channel, undercard for toughest test
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Sylve said: “After all the experience I had fighting overseas at different tournaments, I started to feel that I was soon-to-be ready to turn pro.
“I would’ve stayed in the amateurs if the Olympics were sooner, but I think it was 2024 by the time I could qualify for the Olympics.
“But looking at my future, it was just too long to be waiting around in the amateurs, so that’s why I decided to turn pro at 16.”
Like many before him, Sylve took his talents to Mexico after turning pro at 16.
But it was not facing fully grown men which gave him his biggest fight, rather finding a happy medium between boxing and academics.
Sylve said: I was just still in school. That was the only thing I had to balance.
“I had to balance and figure out my schedule, the training time, losing weight was always a part of it and having another energy to also do my school work.
“That was the big difference but other than that, I actually prefer the professional side to the amateurs.”
Asthon Sylve had his first amateur bout at eight
He went on to have over 120 amateur bouts
After Sylve’s sixth fight, Paul and several others began to take notice of the promising super-featherweight.
He was due to feature on Paul’s undercard the night the social media sensation first beat ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 40.
But when the event was moved to Ohio, Sylve, 17 at the time, was ruled out due to the commission’s age restrictions.
He said: “I had multiple offers, pretty much everyone was coming after me.
“We were still seeing what the best option was and who would be the best fit for me.
“I was supposed to fight on Jake’s undercard I think in Texas but then they switched the venue to Ohio, so with the regulation and my age it just didn’t pan out.
“So I wasn’t able to fight on his card but I think ever since then he had his eyes on me, even before that.”
Ashton Sylve training for his next fight
Ashton Sylve is 8-0 all by KO
The American wants to win titles in three weights
Sylve’s dad would later receive a call from Paul’s manager and adviser Nakisa Bidarian, and soon after a deal was struck between the two.
Paul said: “I had actually seen Ashton years ago, sparring. This kid H20 kept popping up on YouTube, even in my recommended he would pop up.
“So I’ve always known who he was, seen him hanging around mutual friends and once we started MVP, we want to help women and push them forward, which is why we signed Amanda Serrano.
“And then we wanted to help young prospects and he was the No1 young prospect that everyone was trying to sign.
“Mayweather tried to sign him, and he had already a built in social media following at 18-years-old, perfect record, all KOs.
“It just made sense to sign him.”
Amanda Serrano, Ashton Sylve and Jake Paul
Jake Paul training with Ashton Sylve in Puerto Rico
Sylve had his eyes on Wilfred Benitez’s record of youngest world champ of all time, which the Puerto Rican achieved at 17, but had moved on to other goals.
He said: “When I was 16 or 17, I wanted to be the youngest champion ever. But that didn’t pan out. By the time I looked it up, my birthday was pretty much past it.
“But I’ve always dreamed of being a three-weight world champion, so hopefully in the next year or two. I’ll be 19 or 20.”
For all of Sylve’s aspirations and plaudits from the loudest of mouths, none of it will mean anything unless he lets his fighting do the talking.
And he plans to continue doing so in the biggest fight of his career in Arizona, the kind of occasion he always envisioned.
Sylve said: “I’m grateful for the opportunity, this is kind of like a dream come true, something I always envisioned.
“In my ninth fight being a co-main event in a pay-per-view, I don’t think too many other people have done that.
“It’s something I think is incredible and it’s something I’ve always been reaching for.”
Ashton Sylve during an open workout
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you learn to box punch?
A punching bag is used to practice boxing punches. You’ll need to keep punching the bag until you feel you have mastered the technique. Then, move to the next area. Once you feel you are comfortable in one area, you can move on to another.
What is the best way to learn boxing without fighting?
Training boxing requires fighting. You must put in the work to get better at boxing. But if you do, you’ll find that you can improve your boxing technique, speed, endurance, strength, and stamina.
The first step towards improving your boxing technique is to watch some good boxers fight. It is important to observe their movements, their defenses, and how well they use punches. Then, copy their tactics.
The next step is to spar with another boxer. This is where you’ll see whether you’ve improved your boxing technique. You’ll be amazed at how fast you can punch and how strong your punches feel.
Doing drills is another way to improve your boxing skills. You will improve with practice so be patient and persevering.
How do beginner boxers train?
Boxing is one among the oldest sports. However, boxing has become very popular in recent years. Boxing is a sport where two fighters face off against each other in a ring. They punch each others until one loses.
To become a boxer, you must first find out what boxing is like. You can watch some boxing matches on YouTube to feel how it feels hitting someone. Once you have decided that boxing is for you, you can decide what style of fight you prefer.
Statistics
- It is just like normal sparring with a partner, but you want to throw punches at 75% of your normal speed. (wikihow.com)
- This article received 39 testimonials and 89% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. (wikihow.com)
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How To
How to set up a Boxing Gym in my House
How to setup a boxing gym is a common question asked every day by people who want to start their own business. Many people are curious about how much equipment they should purchase, what type of space they need, and how many employees they will require. There are many variables that influence the cost of starting a new business. These include where you are located, how many employees you have, the marketing budget and competition. But one thing that most people forget is the importance of having good equipment. You can’t start if you don’t have the right equipment. These are some great tips for starting a home boxing club.
- You will need somewhere to train. You can use your garage, basement, spare bedroom, or living room to train. It is only necessary that enough space exists to allow for equipment installation.
- A punching bag is essential. This is very important because without a punching bag you won’t be able to practice punches. It could be anything you like, from a simple plastic bag to a sturdy leather bag. You should ensure that the bag is large enough to accommodate you comfortably. You will also want it to last for many years.
- A mat is necessary. Matting protects floors and walls from kicks. It is usually made of foam rubber. These products can be ordered online or offline.
- You will need a bench. The bench can be used to support the body during pushups. These can be bought online or in stores. Make sure you get the right size.
- A speedbag is required. Speedbags are used to develop fast hand movements. You can buy them from either online or offline shops. Be sure to buy quality products that last.
- Headgear is necessary. It protects your head when sparring. You can buy it from either online shops or offline stores. Make sure you get something that fits and protects your face.
- You need gloves. Gloves can be used to protect your hands while sparring. They can be purchased either online or offline stores. Pick the pair that suits you best.
- You will need a mouthpiece. You can use mouthpieces to protect your teeth during sparring sessions. These mouthpieces can be bought online or in stores. Choose the right pair for you.
- Rings are essential. Rings are used in real fight simulations. These rings can be bought online or offline. It should have padding on both sides, so you don’t get hurt during sparring.
- A towel is essential. To wipe off sweat after any workout, you will need to use towels. They can either be purchased at your local sporting good store or online. You should ensure that they are absorbent and soft.
