Darren Askew targeting the top
Workington-born Australian fighter Darren Askew has targeted a place inside the top 20 of the world's top welterweight boxers.
Askew is currently based in Toowoomba, Queensland with Brendon Smith, who also manages former WBO interim lightweight champion Michael Katsidis.
The 29-year-old, ranked seventh in Australia, has won his last five bouts. "With the manager I've got I feel I can get into the top 20 in the world," Askew told BBC Radio Cumbria. "I've just been talking about dropping down to lightweight for regional world titles, which is a minor version of the world title which doesn't make you number one in the world but puts you in the mix for the big fights. "I certainly feel I've got the skills to compete with anyone in the world, I just need to get myself fit."
Both Askew and friend Josh Baillie are flying the Cumbrian flag in Australian boxing at present, taking on home-grown fighters in their own backyard. "It's not been the greatest but I'm slowly winning them over," Askew said of his reception from the local support. "I fought down in Melbourne and stopped a kid in the fifth round but on the scorecard they had me down by two points, so it's hard."