World-ranked Jamaican female boxer, Alicia Ashley, is on a mission to inspire and empower the young women of her native island home. Ashley, who lives and trains in New York City, is on the island for a short visit, with the main objective of reaching out to as many young women as possible during her stay.Ashley, who is also a motivational speaker, will be talking to young ladies about self-defence at the Caribbean Palms Community Centre as well as the Roger Clarke High school in St Elizabeth.She wants to teach them how to protect themselves better since there has been a spate of attacks on women in Jamaica recently.The 49-year-old is also hoping to do more than just that by sharing her personal story in an effort to give them hope.“I want to speak to them about what my life entails and how I got to where I am,” she reasoned.On the issue of the much hyped “Contender” boxing series, Ashley insists that the promoters of the event as well as the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control are missing a trick.“We need to use the Contender Series to promote female boxing, we should use it to showcase our female talent.”On the vexed issue of the disparity between salaries earned by males versus females in the sport of boxing, Asley was adamant that things need to be addressed.“The UFC has taken the lead so that women can finally get paid. The biggest problem with female boxing is that we are not getting paid (enough). Females get paid 5% of what the males make.It is time to level the playing field,” she insisted. Ashley stated that 92% of the advertisement in sports are geared towards men.“If we are not being covered we are not going to get sponsored. Our fights need to be televised. It is a myth that people won’t watch, just take a look at the UFC.”Ronda Rousey who was the first female fighter signed to the UFC in 2012 is estimated to have a net worth of US$12,000,000.The former WBC female World Super Bantamweight champion who has never fought in Jamaica, hopes to get the opportunity very soon.“I have a title rematch at the end of June and I want to win back my title here in Jamaica. Venues have been discussed in Florida and New York but I have never fought in Jamaica, so I would really love to fight here.”Ashley was a guest presenter at the Wray and Nephew Contender on Wednesday where she handed out the medals to the contestants of the amateur bouts.