Ashton Sylve, a young boxer who turned pro before graduating high school, has signed with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and is currently competing for the WBC youth world championship, while also studying for a business management degree.
Ashton Sylve made the leap to professional boxing even before he got his high school diploma. This early start gave him a plethora of choices in his boxing career.
Cameras have been trained on him since he first laced up his gloves at the tender age of 8. By 16, he was already a hot prospect, used to the limelight. Besides being an honor student and a football player, he was gearing up for his pro debut. This caught the attention of world champions like Floyd Mayweather, Shawn Porter, and Leo Santa Cruz.
Offers from various promoters poured in, but Sylve didn’t rush into anything. He took his dad’s advice and took his time before making any hasty career decisions. “We started off when I turned pro, and I had a bunch of offers just before I turned pro, as well,” Sylve shared with MMA Fighting. “My dad always told me to take my time, and he made sure that we took our time, because I was always anxious. Like, ‘This is cool, imagine going with them,’ or, ‘They’ve got a big name!’ We just took our time.”
His dad’s guidance has been instrumental since his early days. “I think that’s the preparation my dad groomed me for since I was younger. He always had me around the scene, and I always has a little bit of fame since I was young. I started boxing at eight years old, and with Floyd and [Manny] Pacquiao and all these big fighters recognizing me, my dad always made sure I stayed steady, [stayed] grounded.”
When he’s not in the gym, Sylve is hitting the books. He’s a college student pursuing a business management degree. Education is important to him, even as he continues to learn from those around him.
In recent years, social media star turned boxer Jake Paul has been a significant influence. Paul won the race to sign Sylve to his Most Valuable Promotions (MVP). When Paul and his business partner Nakisa Bidarian were looking for young, talented fighters, Sylve fit the bill.
MVP executives attended one of Sylve’s fights, and he quickly received an offer. Now 20, he knew it was the right time to sign with a promoter. “Nakisa came to one of my fights in northern California, and then I think after that, Jake ended up calling my dad,” Sylve said. “Basically [he said], ‘We want Ashton to be part of the team, and we want to grow together.’ That was the taste of it, but I know for sure Nakisa came to one of my fights. I had a massive knockout, and it kind of took off like a rocket from there.”
Since signing with MVP, Sylve has been featured on several major cards. These include the undercards of Paul’s main events against Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz. He’s also headlined a few MVP cards, including his next fight against Estivan Falcao in Orlando on Feb. 2.
Paul often hypes Sylve as a future champion on his social media channels, where he has millions of followers. Sylve appreciates the promotion, but he also values the advice Paul gave him about social media clout. “Jake always told me he can push me as much as he can, but at the end of the day, I still have to get in the ring and show off my skill set,” Sylve said. “That’s going to be my spotlight.”
He knows that his skills and personality will ultimately win him fans. “Because people will become a fan of mine after [my fights]. Being able to have the platform of Jake [is great]. But at the end of the day, it’s my skill set and who I am, [that’s] who I gain my fan base from.”
On Friday, Sylve is competing for the WBC youth world championship. This could be the first of many belts he collects over the next few years. He currently boasts a perfect 10-0 record with nine knockouts. Given his early fame, there’s already pressure for him to take on higher-profile fights.
Sylve is grateful for the recognition, but he’s not going to rush into anything. He trusts his father and Paul to guide his career. They’ll let him know when he’s ready for the next level.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself, and that’s why I’m glad I have a team behind me to make sure we take our time, we go slowly and not rush anything,” Sylve said. “My expectations are so high, and people believe in me. I believe in myself, as well, we believe I can be a champion right now. But it’s more so about the route, and the timing is everything. We make sure to take our time and that each opponent is progressing slowly, so we don’t get ahead of ourselves.”
He’s ready to take on anyone. “I’m just like, ‘Give me [anybody], it doesn’t matter. Whoever you bring this way, I’ve got it.’ That’s why I leave it to them to pick which guys [I fight] and what they think is good for me and my career. That’s a team. That’s what I call teamwork.”