Crawford Ashley was a Sky Sports staple through the 1990s having reigned as British, Commonwealth and European champion and fighting for world titles.

But retirement came and depression and death loomed large. As he struggled to find himself after boxing there were multiple brushes with death. By then, he'd fought a who's who of top fighters, from Michael Nunn and Virgil Hill to Johnny Nelson, Carl Thompson, Nicky Piper, Graciano Rocchigiani, Yawe Davis and Clinton Woods.

Here he talks about wanting to fight Chris Eubank, and sparring him, sparring with Lennox Lewis in Big Bear, the horrendous time he endured towards the end of his career and post-boxing, the biggest fights and his fresh and optimistic outlook on life having spent time in Jamaica, Thailand and many places in between.

Check out Crawford's YouTube channel The Spiritual Boxer https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCemy0sAyE0F2gz8r0EAB1IQ

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