South Yorkshire Times, May 5th 1933
Coming Champion
Conisboro’ Lad’s Rapid Advance
Ellis Ashurst, the Conisboro’ flyweight added another success to his already long list by a points verdict over Bert Kirby. the Birmingham boxer. at West Bromwich. on Sunday. Kirkby carried the first four rounds of a twelve 2-minute rounds contest. Ashurst then chanced his tactics and scored with smart uppercuts, subsequently maintaining a concentrated attack. Ashurst described the fight to a “Times” representative as one of his best contests. The local lad received a great ovation from the 4,000 people present and a return fight with Kirby has been arranged to take place on May 28th, at Birmingham.
Taking up boxing two years ago, Ashurst has participated in 67 fights and has only lost two on points. He has four knock-out wins to credit. Among his notable achievements has been victories over Kid Hughes, the Welsh flyweight champion, Jerry Costello, the Liverpool “star,” Ronnie Somerton of Birmingham, Bert Kirby of Birmingham, and Billy Yates of Mexborough. Ashurst has been interested in sport all his life, but up to two years ago had never entertained the idea of becoming a boxer. By chance he competed at several six-round contests promoted by Mr. Frank Lane at the British Legion Club, Denaby Main, and following his successes, Mr. Lane acted as his manager for a year.
Ashurst is now in the hands of Mr. Arthur Stratton, of Birmingham who is manager for Mr. Ted Salmon, the foremost promoter in the Midlands. In the near future Ashurst is to spend several months hard training at Birmingham, and in the meantime his manager is hoping to match him against Mickey McGuire of Newcastle. Ashurst, who is employed as an assistant by Messrs. David Haigh’s, a local firm of pawnbrokers, will not devote the whole of his time to the boxing profession, his employers having granted him leave for several months in order to train. Possibly in the near future Ashurst will meet either Fred Bebbington, the northern area flyweight champion, or Mickey McGuire at Mexborough. McGuire will prove a difficult opponent to beat, having defeated Jackie Brown, the World Champion, but there is no reason why the decision should not be in his favour.
Not yet nineteen, Ashurst is regarded by good judges as a probable future champion. Under the eight stone limit Ashurst has frequently to give seven or eight pounds away to his opponents. His greatest ambition is to meet Jackie Brown for the championship title. He is a son of Mr. William Ashurst.