York light-heavyweight prospect Jamie Warters was jetting to the sun today to help plot the downfall of one of boxing's biggest ever stars.

The Jorvik Warrior was flying to sun-kissed Tenerife to help Leeds' based boxer Crawford Ashley bring the curtain down on living legend Thomas Hearns' career.

Warters, ranked number ten in the British light-heavyweight ratings, will spend up to three weeks training and sparring with Ashley at his warm weather training camp off the North African coast.

Ashley, the former British, European and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion will climb into the ring with Hearns, famously nick-named "the Hitman", on March 25 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

The Ashley v Hearns scrap has caught the imagination of American fight fans after the Hit Man announced, win or lose, it will be his last fight.

Speaking to the Evening Press, Warters admitted he was honoured to be playing a leading role in the final fight of a record breaking boxing warrior.

Hearns, now 41, has won more world titles than any other fighter and secured his place in boxing's hall of fame during the 1980s and 1990s when he became the first fighter to win five such titles at five different weights.

His titanic tussles with Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran have gone down in boxing folklore.

More importantly, said the York ace, it would give him a chance to spar with the experienced Ashley and shake-off the shackles of Britain's cold winter.

"It will be fantastic preparation for my next fight," enthused Warters, who has previously been a sparring partner for current British, European and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Clinton Woods.

"Crawford Ashley wanted me. He knows I will give him good sparring and that is why he asked me. It will be a great experience," he said.

Warters was scheduled to meet Portsmouth's Tony Oakey two weeks ago but 'flu and a chest infection forced him to pull out.

"I am only used to training in Yorkshire so this should give me a real lift," he admitted.

"It will be high altitude where I will be training so it will be hard work but I am looking forward too it."

Warters' said he hopes to be fighting at the end of March or in early April, although both opponent and venue have still to be announced.

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