Rakeem “The Noble” Ashaye is a boxer on a natural course of evolution, and he’s hoping it will take him to the Southern Area title – for starters.

The Upper Norwood super lightweight made it eight wins out of eight two weekends ago when his fight against Ivo Gogosevic was cut short following a head clash leaving the Croatian with a severe cut above his eye.

However, despite the disappointment of the manner of the win, Ashaye still took positives back out the ring.

The 25-year-old said: “Every fight has been different, so I am always learning and developing as a boxer.

“In Saturday’s fight, he came out swinging from the very start, looking to beat me in the first round – I’d never had that before.

“I needed to take control of the situation and that’s where my trainers and manager have really helped me, in building me up bit by bit, so I am ready for the big fight when it comes.”

After win number eight, Ashaye took time out in Italy, but he will be stepping up his training in April ahead of a potential fight in July.

However, the ultimate short-term goal is a shot at the Southern Area title before the end of the year.

“I feel I can at least go to the European level, but who knows what the future holds,” he said.

“At the moment, the Southern Area is my next big step and I have to concentrate on that – that is the first step, there is no point looking at the second or third step, because you might fall at the first.”

He added: “It does not matter to me who has the SA belt when the time comes round, I just want that title, I want that belt.”