Alicia “Slick” Ashley: Dancing’s loss, boxing’s gain

If not for a knee injury, three-time world champion boxer Alicia “Slick” Ashley would probably be a pro on “Dancing With The Stars” instead of in the ring.

Ashley, 14-7-1 (1), fighting out of Westbury, NY, challenges IFBA World junior featherweight champion Lisa “Bad News” Brown, 14-3-3 (4), on Thursday evening, June 12 in the 10-round main event on Fox Sports Net’s Best Damn Championship Fight Night Period card at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Best Damn Championship Fight Night Period, presented by Cappiello Boxing in association with Hollybrook Regency, Inc., also features Russian invader Anastasia Toktaulova, 12-8 (2), challenging IFBA World flyweight champion Elena “Baby Doll” Reid, 19-4-5 (5), in the 10-round co-feature.

Ashley moved to New York City from her native Jamaica with her family at the age of 11, fully intending to follow in the footsteps of her professional dancing father. A dance student since the age of six, she received scholarships to the renowned Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham schools. Her brother, Maurice, is the first and only black International Chess Grandmaster, and her other brother and head trainer, Devon, is 4-time World champion kick-boxer.

A devastating knee injury, however, prematurely ended Alicia’s dance career and could have destroyed her athletic ambitions as well. So, she got into karate to fill the void, excelled at it, and soon realized that she needed to develop boxing skills to successfully compete in kick-boxing, in which, she was 10-0-1 before switching to boxing in the mid-nineties.

“I started dancing when I was six with a goal to become a professional dancer,” the stylish southpaw said. “At 20, I partially tore the meniscus in my right knee and couldn’t dance anymore. I didn’t have surgery but took time off to go to college and get my degree in computer science. I’d always been in the spotlight and wanted to stay there. I started weight training and got into kickboxing. I kick-boxed against a boxer. I could drive my legs, but I didn’t move my head or punch. I freaked out and had to keep on the outside. I had the flexibility and discipline from dancing you need, but I knew that I had to learn how to box. I didn’t like boxing at first because I didn’t think there was art to it. I thought boxing was like Tyson knocking people out, but I learned the intricacies of the sport. I wish that I could have gone further in dance. I’d love to be on ‘Dancing With The Stars’ as one of the professionals.”

Ashley challenges Trinidad and Tobago born Brown, who moved with her family in 1988 to a suburb of Toronto. Brown is a late bloomer not having boxed until she was 26, after she watched Christy Martin fight Dierdre Gogarty on a Mike Tyson PPV card, as well in addition to being encouraged by her husband and former pro boxer, Errol Brown, who still serves as her head trainer.

“Lisa is strong, that’s the main thing,” Alicia evaluated her opponent, Brown. “I’m so much faster and speed will beat power. I’ve been trying to get a fight likes this for a while and I definitely looking forward to fighting in the 10-round main event on Best Damn Championship Fight Night Period on national television. This is what I’ve wanted so everybody can see what type of fighter – slick, entertaining. I’m a boxer, not a brawler, and I’m going to move and make you miss. That’s why a lot don’t want to fight me.”

On the undercard, Las Vegas undefeated star Melinda Cooper (18-0, 10 KOs) begins her comeback after nearly 18 months of inactivity against knockout artist Donna “Nature Girl” Biggers (19-7-1, 16 KOs), of Shelby, North Carolina, in a special 6-round junior featherweight bout.

In a pair of 6-rounders, junior featherweight contender Jeri Stizes (14-7-1, 6 KOs), of Springfield, Missouri, meets dangerous Ela “Bam Bam” Nunez (6-3, 2 KOs), fighting out of Jamestown, New York, while popular Jill Emery (8-2, 3 KOs) and experienced Cristy “Code Red” Nickel (7-6, 4 KOs) — both fighting out of New York City, college graduates and physical training instructors – square off in a middleweight bout.

Tickets are priced at $10.00, $25.00 and $40.00 and on sale at the Mohegan Sun box office or online at www.mohegansun.com.

Go to www.ifba.com for more information. The undercard will start a 7 PM/ET, followed by the first of three scheduled televised bouts beginning at 8 PM/ET.