16.07 - He knows that talk is cheap, and that boxers call each other out every day. But what are you going to do, when nobody is knocking down your door to fight you? What are you going to do, when you know you are among the very best in your weight class, but you cant get a chance to prove it?

The middleweight division is without a doubt one of the most prestigious throughout history. These days, Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins is the top dog (or Dawg, as he would say it), but along side of him are a few names that want to be in the mix themselves.

Hopkins will probably fight his WBA mandatory William Joppy next (who ironically is a WBA champion himself), so what else is there to stripe for at 160 lbs? WBA and IBF # 6 contender; Evans "The African Warrior" Ashira (22-0, 12 KOs) would love to fight Hopkins too, and he has previously issued a public challenge to Joppy as well. But since both of his DKP stablemates is likely to duke it out with each other next, the Danish-Kenyan banger has set his sight on another American contender.

"Now I hope that Robert Allen will fight me! Robert has said that he will fight anybody who wants his number-one (IBF) ranking, and I hope his promoter and my promoter will get together and make this fight. It's a really good match-up, and will undoubtedly be a fans-fight," says Ashira.

Allen´s promoter Dan Goosen made it clear on live TV after his boxers last appearance (an eight round stoppage of Jesse Aquino), that the IBF # 1 challenger would be going straight after Hopkins, the man who already holds two wins over Allen. But since Hopkins appears to have other plans, Ashira is hoping that his request will be heard and accommodated:

"But if Allen is afraid to risk his ranking against me, then I will just have to fight someone else. The problem is, that people keep on pulling out of fights with me. Every time it looks as if I have something coming up, them guys find something they think is more safe, or whatever. Its really frustrating"!

Evans Ashira was a world-class amateur boxer (115-15), winning the Kenyan nationals seven times, and capturing the Commonwealth title as well. As a pro, he has won three titles so far; The IBF Intercontinental 154 lb. title, the WBA International 160 lb title (which he still holds) and the IBA "world" 160 lb. Title. He, as most other boxers, is looking for "the big one", and he is ready to take the hard road to glory.

"Only thing is, I don't think Robert Allen wants to be a part of that hard road," says Ashira with a smile. "I hope I am wrong, and that he keeps his word of fighting anyone who wants his ranking, but I am not holding my breath. We will see what happens though. I am ready for him, as I have been ready for William (Joppy) for more than a year now. I was actually in line to fight Joppy, but that one fell through too. That's life I guess . "