Martin Ward says he still respects Jazza Dickens as a boxer but no longer as a fella.
The pair, once amateur team-mates and friends, will fight for the vacant British super-bantamweight title on Friday, July 27.
Ward and Dickens have been here before, engaging in a blood bath at Houghton in late 2015, when Jazza retained his belt via a split decision.
It was some clash, but since then Dickens has surrendered his crown to Tommy Ward, on a unanimous technical decision in Leeds in May 2017 when, ironically, a bad cut ended the bout early but on this occasion in the younger Ward’s favour.
Since then the respect level has fallen, with Tommy and James indulging in a spat on social media.
While he did not say it in so many words, you get the feeling Martin would like to mete out some damage to his old pal.
“We’re not friends any more,” said the Dave Garside and Neil Fannan southpaw.
“I had a lot of respect for Jazza as a fighter as well as a person but now it’s just the fighting side I respect him for.
“When I fought him, I thought I won and a lot of people thought it was tight.
“He promised me a re-match I never got and when Tommy boxed him he beat Jazza fair and square.
“It got stopped for a cut, went to the scorecards and Tommy got it and it was the correct result but Jazza has not give him any credit.”
The NE Security-sponsored boxer added: “I can’t give him any recognition now because of the way he has carried on, I do respect Jazza Dickens as a fighter.
“But no longer as a person for the way he has conducted himself.”
Ward’s return bout with Dickens headlines a real bonanza at Rainton Meadows Arena.
As things stand, the contests will be in double figures, headlined by two title fights featuring the Hartlepool-trained Ward bros, pictured above at the NE Security offices.
Tommy Ward will take on Ionut Baluta for the IBF inter-continental belt while there will be some list of undercard fighters, predominately North-East prospects.
Luke Cope, Chad Ellis, Jordan Ellison, Anth Hardy, Tom Hill, Joe Laws, Darren Reay, Kyle Redfearn and Terence Wilkinson are all penciled in to fight on the Dennis Hobson promotion in association with Dave Garside and Phil Jeffries.
Words: Roy Kelly
