Tommy Ward number one.
Only the four words ‘Tommy Ward world champion’ could eclipse it and you would not bet against it happening in the next 12 months.
The World Boxing Organisation have made the undefeated 25-year-old their number one rated super-bantamweight, meaning THAT fight for the WBO belt surely gets ever closer.
Ward, who has been top four with that sanctioning body for what seems an age, was elevated to numero uno after previous leading light Albert Pagara turned down a final eliminator with the Neil Fannan and Dave Garside star.
The Filipino boxer, known as ‘Prince’ or his team (or both) seemingly rejected a showdown with the Co Durham talent on April 4 in Newcastle – a date doing the rounds in social media circles.
Whatever, whenever and whoever it is for Tommy next, there is jubilation today in the Hartlepool camp, who it must be added has Lewis Ritson at number two in the WBA light-welterweight ratings.
“We’re over the moon,” Fannan told punch-lines. “I had a call from MTK to tell us the news.
“MTK said Pagara refused to fight in a final eliminator so they’ve made Tommy their number one.
“I don’t know the reason, it might be that they did not fancy Newcastle, it might be too chilly for them!
“I do know that at that level that no-one is frightened of anyone else, so it could be political, it could be the North-East weather!
“I’m just happy that Tommy has got the number one spot and hopefully we’ll get news on an opponent.”
And Fannan laughed that there will be no chance of Team Ward following the lead of Team Pagara.
“I’ve been saying for ages that Tommy is one of the best in the world,” he said. “It’s no good me telling everyone that and then say ‘we won’t fight A and we won’t fight B’.
“We’ve been in hard training since Christmas and we’ve got something to look forward to.
“The champion Emanuel Navarrete is due to defend his title on the Deontay Wilder/ Tyson Fury 2 next month so a fight with him, or whoever wins that contest, means we’d be looking at the back end of the year for Tommy to fight him.
“We’re now just waiting for some fight news.”
The NE Security-sponsored boxer has won all 29 of his contests, the most recent being unanimous international eight-round points win in Dubai against Mexico’s Martin Casillas on MTK’s show at the Caesars Palace Bluewaters Arena in November.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins/ Hartlepool Life
