08.05.06: After unsuccessful world title challenges at middleweight and super middleweight, the latter a decision loss to Jose Calzaghe where he boxed ten rounds with a torn ligament in his shoulder, Evans “The African” Warrior” Ashira (25-1, 13 KOs) is now back where it all began for him in 1998, the light middleweight division, and he plans to go all out in a third raid towards one of the major world titles.. Don King-promoted Ashira returned to the ring Saturday night in Krosno, Poland, winning a clear decision over Belarussian Sasha Shnip (20-11, 11 KOs), in what was the first test to see how the shoulder would hold after surgery late last year.
“The shoulder felt great, and it was such a pleasure for me to get the rounds under my belt. I had this guy rocked in every round, was too fast for him, and could have knocked him out early, but I wanted the rounds. I would have liked eight rounds, actually. A quick knockout would have left me wondering about the shoulder, but now I know its alright again, so I am very pleased” said Ashira after fighting the awkward Shnip, who spend the fight back peddling, holding and even head-butting, leaving Ashira with a small cut over the right eye.
“When all is said and done, I gave the guy a bad beating, and I feel great at light middleweight. I want to fight the best out there in this division. (WBC champion) Oscar De La Hoya obviously have bigger fish to fry if he boxes again, but (new WBA champion) Jose Antonio Rivera can bring it on, (WBO champion) Sergey Dzinziruk can bring it on, and I would love to get revenge for my good friend Kassim Ouma and put a beating on (IBF champion) Roman Karmazin. After five years of fighting these big guys at middle and super middle, I’m ready to make a mark at light middle”.
Ashira recently relocated to West Palm Beach, Florida in an effort to be closer to the biggest fights and the better sparring, after living in Denmark for eight years. He hopes to get one more fight before hopefully taking on one of the best in the world in a chance to prove that he is himself one of the best.
“I’m back at 154, I’m stronger than ever before, and I’m ready to go to war”, said the happy contender before flying back to West Palm Beach to be with his Danish wife and three sons.