What is the saying about there being life left in the old dog yet?
Not for one minute am I suggesting that Martin Ward is ‘old’ at the age of 30.
The classy southpaw is returning to the ring on Saturday, June 16 In Newcastle.
It’s not a bad time for the Hartlepool boxer to come back on a night when Matchroom stage a spectacular at the Metro Radio Arena, headline by Josh Kelly’s challenge for the Commonwealth welterweight title against Australia’s Kris George and Lewis Ritson’s British championship defence with Paul Hyland Jnr.
Eddie Hearn has put together FIVE title shoot-outs while the undercard will not be shabby either!
Enter Martin Ward. The Dave Garside and Neil Fannan ace has not boxed since Abigail Medina stopped him inside two rounds in their showdown in Hartlepool for the European title last September.
With younger brother Tommy already British champ, the dream of the Wards was to ‘do a Klitschko’ and rule the same weight division.
Sadly, Medina had dreams of his own and the 28-year-old, from Barcelona, would have knocked out an elephant that night in the Borough Hall.
Since that night, the NE Security-sponsored star has been assisting Fannan in the training of Tommy, who is still awaiting a date for his British title defence against James ‘Jazza’ Dickens.
But he has not been neglecting his own training and Fannan says the ex-Commonwealth champion is relishing a run-out at the Metro Radio Arena.
“We’re grateful to Eddie for a fight for Martin,” said the coach. “Martin had hoped to box in March at the Rainton Meadows Arena but had a cut in sparring.
“This is ideal for him to show what he can do and then take things from there.”
Ward’s record is an outstanding one with only four defeats in 30 appearances, with only one of his losses coming in a non-title bout.
For tickets, contact Neil on 07891101399.
Words: Roy Kelly
