Tommy Ward has taken a first confident stride towards the International Boxing Federation’s super=bantamweight title.
The 24-year-old, rated number 12 by the IBF, collected the organisation’s European belt in masterful fashion in Houghton, outpointing Alvaro Rodriguez.
Ward clinched victory by a unanimous decision against the Spanish champion, Michael Alexander and Giuseppe Commercio scoring it 100-90 and Dutch official Lahcen Oumghar marking it 99-91.
It was as one-sided as the cards suggest, the Hartlepool and West Rainton talent outclassing a tough Spaniard who was barely able to lay a glove on him.
Ward’s jab was the key to victory. time and again it was thrust into the face of Rodriguez, followed up by sharp rights as he built up a commanding lead.
The 32-year-old, from Madrid, showed more ambition from the fourth onwards, but his swings were too often wild and he missed with more than he connected with.
By the sixth round, Rodriguez was smiling away but that must have been in bemusement because he cold get no where near the outgoing British champion.
Ward dominated the seventh and there was a noticeable sharpening up of the attacks in the eighth wile the ninth was even better as the Dave Garside and Neil Fannan fighter really got to work with both gloves as referee Howard Foster kept a close eye on the situation.
Rodriguez survived and in the last ploughed forward and let his fists go, though Ward was never in any danger of coming unstuck in this climax to the Dennis Hobson Promotions event, in association with Dave Garside and Phil Jeffries.
It was enough to gain a round from the Netherlands judge though the truth was it was at best a shared round.
However, that could only be viewed `as the smallest of gripes for Team Ward who witnessed the NE Security-sponsored boxer perform superbly in such a key fight.
“I don’t class as any fight as easy,” said the IBF’s new European champion. “I just got off my shots and did what I do best.
“He tried for the full fight and he was swinging his bombs so he was dangerous.
“I think it was the ninth I started to put it on him and began to hurt him a bit and thought I could perhaps get him out of there, but he was a strong, tough lad.
“But I got the job done and we’re a step closer to where we want to be going.”
Words: Roy Kelly
