Wardley sensationally stopped previously unbeaten Australian Justis Huni in the tenth round of their WBA interim world heavyweight title fight, having been a long way behind on the scorecards.
Fabio Wardley scored a sensational tenth round KO at Portman RoadFabio Wardley scored a sensational tenth round KO at Portman Road (Image: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry) And, speaking to the EADT and Ipswich Star in the aftermath, Ashton enthused: "Another amazing night here at Portman Road.
"We’ve seen fantastic nights over the last couple of years, but I think that was something a little bit special.”
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Asked how he found it watching his friend Wardley fight, Ashton admitted: “It was painful! I’ve just been saying to him, ‘you can duck Fab!’
"But look, he’s another great representative of the town, the club, the county, the community, and he keeps marching forward – we’re just very, very proud of him.
“He just keeps going and going, he’s resilient and I’m just so proud of him.”
Fans celebrate Wardley's big winFans celebrate Wardley's big win (Image: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry) Of the event itself, which saw almost 20,000 fans create a special atmosphere inside Portman Road, Ashton said: “We’ve been at the football club four years and we’ve delivered two men’s promotions, a women’s promotion, a Fabio Wardley fight, three Ed Sheeran concerts next month.
“I think it’s good for Ipswich, the town’s on the map and the county’s on the map, and I think everyone in this community should be very proud of themselves, very proud of their town.
“And I think the town represented itself extremely well. A big well done to everyone.”
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The Wardley fight night was a dream six years in the making. So now it's done, and created such an action-packed, emotional night, would Ashton host another Wardley boxing event?
“Hell yes!” came the emphatic response.
Promoter Frank Warren is certainly keen too.
Frank Warren is keen on bringing Fabio Wardley back to Portman RoadFrank Warren is keen on bringing Fabio Wardley back to Portman Road (Image: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry) He told us: “We said that to him (Ashton) that we would be back, a bit like the old Arnold Schwarzenegger… we will be back.
“It was a great show even despite the weather. It was a fabulous night and I’m proud of this guy.
“He’s a boxer, he’s a fighter, but he’s got that fighter’s heart, that resilience, and there were moments in that fight where he was getting caught and I could see other fighters wouldn’t have gone on like he did, he showed a lot of grit in there.
“And as he said at the press conference, it only takes him one punch. He found the punch and he did it, he did it in style – that’s what he is, he’s a fighter.”
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Wardley himself joked: “That’s why I did it, why I made it so entertaining – because I wanted to come back. It was all part of the plan!”