Jamaica’s Alicia Ashley inducted into International Boxing Hall of Fame
Jamaican boxer Alicia Ashley, the oldest woman to ever win a title in the sport, has been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Ashley was part of the 10-member class enshrined Sunday at a ceremony at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in New York. The class included other multiple-time world champions such as Timothy Bradley Jr from the United States, Carl Froch from Britain, and Rafael Marquez and Laura Serrano from Mexico.
During her Hall of Fame career, Ashley went by the name ‘Slick’ due to her quick combinations and fast foot movements. The decorated fighter is a former IWBF Featherweight, WIBF and IFBA Super Bantamweight, and WBC Super Bantamweight champion. In 2015, she made history when she became the oldest woman to win a title at 48.
Ashley was born in Kingston and attended Seaward All-Age School. She grew up along Maxfield Avenue, then moved to Rockfort for some four years before migrating to the United States at age 11.
She got involved in boxing by chance as she was a professional dancer before a career-ending knee injury forced her from the profession.
“In New York I got a scholarship and danced for all of the big companies… professionally until I injured my knee… It was a really bad injury, a torn meniscus, and that’s where it ended,” she told the Jamaica Observer in a previous interview.
Following the injury, she had a lot of extra time on her hands with very little to do and eventually picked up an offer from her brother who was always encouraging her to get involved into karate. That led her into the sport she is now glorified.
Ashley boxed up until age 50. She has been inactive since 2018.
