Mission accomplished.
Tommy Ward returned to the ring after a five-month absence with victory in an eight-round international match on Saturday night when he outpointed Brayan Mairena.
It ticked every box for the 25-year-old at the Brentwood Centre.
Winning debut for promoters MTK? Yes.
Unscathed after eight rounds under the belt? Yes.
Entertainment for the live TV audience on ESPN and IFLTV? Yes.
A show of class but moments when he had to dig in? Yes.
Yep, this was a good night for Team Ward, boss Dave Garside and coach Neil Fannan and his entourage of Martin Ward, Jimmy Ward and Neil Fannan Jnr. But most of all, Tommy.
He probably got hit a few more times than you would like to see this man of movement get hit but he was never troubled.
It proved a highly valuable half-an-hour in Essex.
Mairena has been in with some highly-accomplished company – and at heavier marks – so this was a canny test.
Perhaps aware that TPW had not taped up his gloves in five months, Mairena came out of the traps at some speed. Maybe his corner had mentioned Ward’s world ranking.
Whatever the reason, the Nicaraguan had a good first, but Ward fixed his target in the next and rounds two to seven saw the WBO’s number four, put together his stuff, two stinging lefts here, two cracking rights there. Body? Head? Ward did not miss either target.
There was a trading moment in the fifth but, that aside, Tommy was always a step ahead.
The NE Security-sponsored boxer began the last on the move before opting to stand and fight, with Mairena ending the contest as he began it, throwing plenty.
Referee Chas Coakley scored it 79-73 and it looked a fair reflection and both fighters richly deserved the applause from the big crowd.
Words: Roy Kelly
