Neil Fannan has told Jazza Dickens to quit whinging about the postponement of the British super-bantamweight title clash at Houghton.
Punch-lines reported yesterday that Martin Ward had been forced to pull out of the intriguing July 27 battle of the two southpaws due to a problem with his right hand.
Originally, Tommy Ward had been due to defend the British championship he had won against the Scouser.
But Team Ward decided to take a different route by challenging for the International Boxing Federation’s European belt as they seek a crack at the IBF world title.
Martin Ward was passed by the British Boxing Board of Control as the substitute opponent and all looked set for a fascinating re-match after the pair had slugged out a bloodbath in the same Rainton Meadows Arena ring in November 2015.
Alas, an injury has now put paid to the bout … for the time being.
Dickens, perhaps not surprisingly, given the proximity of the show, has not taken it well.
“Ward brothers have wasted nine weeks of my time! Martin’s pulled out as well!” he wrote on Twitter.
“Lucky to have a great team behind me & I’ll still be boxing for the british title. I’m the best in this country!
“I challenge anyone to step up??????”
He added today, hinting he would not fight Martin in September, “Final word on the fight! Good luck Martin & @ThomasPWard_ on there careers x.”
Fannan, who trains the Wards in his Hartlepool gym, said he was upset at the former British champ’s reaction.
“What’s happened, unfortunately, is boxing,” said the coach.
“It’s happened before for me with Argie Ward and Kevin Bennett.
“It’s happened to loads of boxers, you need to stop whinging and wait. This fight will take place.
“Jazza has made things personal by the way he has gone on.
“After he and Martin had their first fight, after the bell Jazza and [his trainer] Paul came over and said ‘we’ll have to do this again’.
“But once they got the [split] decision we got nothing from them, they wouldn’t entertain a return with Martin.
“Tommy only got the fight with him last year because he was made mandatory challenger and he deserved his win on the night.
“Frank Warren won the purse bids to Tommy and Jazza this year but gave the fight back when he said he could not get TV coverage.
“We took the fight on but made the decision to take Tommy down the IBF route and the Board accepted Martin v Jazza for the vacant title.
“I don’t see people queuing up to promote Jazza.
“Dave Garside is financing this fight and he ought to be thankful that Dave is willing to put this show on.
“Jazza needs to bide his time and stop calling people.”
Fannan said the promoters hope to re-stage the southpaw showdown in September.
Next Friday’s show will still go ahead with Tommy Ward fighting Spanish champion Alvaro Rodriguez for the IBF Euro belt.
Words: Roy Kelly
