Punching up with high ambitions

Ashley Belk says she has come a long way since joining forces with Dixon’s Boxing six months ago.

Having previously trained with a team in Christchurch, which included a drive through the Lewis Pass at least once a week, she decided to consolidate her life, hobbies and passion back home and hasn’t looked back.

While Ashley had taken several years out of the ring, the competitive spark never left and she has thrown herself right back in the thick of things as she eyes up a spot for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

And it’s a dream within reach, having just returned from Australia, where she beat the U48kg national golden gloves champion.

“We wanted to test where we’re at,” says coach Randall Dixon.

“In six months, it’s been a hell of a rise.

“I put her (opponent) as the number one girl in Oceania. . . but I guess it’s Ash now.”

Ashley says the win, where she was also awarded the best female boxer of the event, was because she had more aggression and strength than her opponent.

“I didn’t fight how I had intended to. I still stuck to the plan, but it is a whole different thing when you’re in there and fighting.”

With the wind in her sails, now boasting a six-win and one-loss amateur record, Ashley is confident she has what it takes to bring it to the next level.

“When I moved to Christchurch (to train), I decided to start fighting again,” she says.

“I was already putting in all of the work.”

While Ashley says she never really took a break from training, she had taken time to upskill herself and regain her focus for the sport.

Having originally started boxing as a fitness program, she always knew she had a desire to take her skills to the ring and has since found a wealth of success.

After an exhibition bout in Motueka in August to dust off the ring rust, she’s now eager to continue her upward momentum.

“I do whatever I can to get prepared.

“We’re working on my defence, sharpening that up.”

On top of her most recent win, which she says is her biggest to date as it was her first international opponent, Ashley has also held the North Island Golden Gloves title.

With a background in dance, having competed on the world hip-hop championships stage and now owning and running Born&Raised dance academy, Ashley believes it helped her become a better boxer.

“It’s given me some good things for boxing, like coordination and footwork, but it’s also the years of commitment I’ve put into dance.

“The commitment and putting in the hard work is similar.”

Randall says Ashley is a gifted athlete, but it’s also her intense will to win that has seen her have so much success.

“Ash is pretty smart. She picks things up quick and is learning her craft.

“At the end of the day, Ash beat Skye (her Australian opponent) quite comfortably.

“She just needs more international competition. At the end of the day she needs fights.

“This is the thing that’s going to hold us up, a lack of competition. It looks like we’re going to be making the trip over to Australia more often.”