Ashton Bell Added To Fight Card At Warriors Cup
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Ashton Bell is ready for the biggest test of his bourgeoning Muay Thai career after being added to the fight card at the Warriors Cup in New York on Friday [April 1].
He joins compatriot Tyler Kerr, his Bermuda teammate on the bill at the event – considered the top promotion on the East Coast of the United States – held at Melrose Ballroom in Astoria, Queens.
Bell is moving up a weight class to super-middleweight to face American Malaquias Jarmon while Kerr takes on Marco Matias, also from the US, for the lightweight championship title.
“I got lucky with the promoters finding me a fight at the last minute,” Bell told Bernews.
“I was a little jealous of Tyler when it didn’t appear I’d be fighting; I’m still a little jealous as he’s got a title fight!
“My coaches Chuck [Morgan] and Nikki [Stoudt] have made me aware of how big this promotion is. It’s a great opportunity, as many good fighters have fought at the Warriors Cup.”
Bell, who has four wins from five amateur bouts, said he has no issue stepping up in weight to meet Jarmon, who has two victories from three outings.
He also insists he is physically and mentally prepared, having increased his training in recent weeks in case he was offered a fight at short notice.
“I’m fighting a little heavier this time,” added Bell, who trains at Fight City Muay Thai and Fitness. “I fought at 172 pounds at my first tournament [the World Muay Thai Expo in Des Moines] last summer, so it’s not new for me. It’s still within my weight bracket.
“Chuck didn’t let me slack off even though I wasn’t initially fighting on the card. He told me to be ready in case something happened.
“I was still doing my running and coming to class every day to support Tyler. I’m still pretty well prepared for this fight.
“I watched my opponent in action at my first tournament; I gather he’s had a couple of fights since then.”
Despite defeating fellow Bermudian Cole Durham on points at The Shed in Royal Naval Dockyard in January, Bell said he was not satisfied with how he fought and is targeting an improved showing in New York.
“We learned a lot as a team during my last fight,” the 27-year-old said.
“We went back to the drawing board as we didn’t like how I performed.
“We’ve reset and have a different game plan and approach for this fight. It’s exciting to keep improving as a Muay Thai practitioner.”
