Tommy Ward will be up against a former African champion when he makes his first appearance of 2022.
The unbeaten world number four rated featherweight has been matched with Alexis Boureima Kabore in Newcastle on Friday, March 25.
There had been a hope, albeit an outside one, that Ward might get a WBA eliminator at the Utilita Arena following his stand-out win over Leonardo Padilla in December.
But a contest with the Burkina Faso man represents a live test given his opponent won away from home at the weekend with a seventh-round stoppage in Accra and before that went 10 rounds with world-rated Brit Archie Sharp at the York Hall.
Coach Neil Fannan told punch-lines: “We want Tommy to be fighting opponents above us in the ratings.
“We want a world championship fight for Tommy and that’s what we are working towards.
“Kabore has a very good record and has only ever lost to good opponents and has been stopped just once.”
The 38-year-old has won 29 of his 34 bouts, including seven by stoppage, while Ward is looking to build on a record of 31-0-1.
It would not be inaccurate to say that wins 30 and 31 have been up there among the best.
The 27-year-old dazzled against Edy Valencia Mercado last June at the Eagles Arena before boxing beautifully to outclass Padilla at Rainton Meadows Arena.
Both came at featherweight where the Dave Garside-managed talent is on the verge of a world title shot.
“Tommy has made his last two opponents look very average,” said Fannan.
“They were very decent fighters he was in with, but I’ve also seen him make [top] people in sparring look average.
“The thing about Tom as well is whenever he thinks he might be up against it he’ll step up a gear.
“People talk about boxers being world class and Tommy is genuine world class.”
On that very subject, there is a belter of a world title fight coming up on Saturday, March 12 at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena, where hometown man, Leigh Wood defends his WBA featherweight belt against unbeaten Irishman Michael Conlan.
It presents an exciting and obvious prospect of the winner having another domestic scrap with Ward.
Fannan, however, poured cold water on such talk, suggesting both Wood and Conlan would “dodge” the Co Durham star.
“They won’t pick Tommy,” he said. “But everyone dodges him.
“Hopefully though we’ll get ourselves made mandatory [challenger] then no-one can dodge him.”
Ward is just part of an incredible array of North-East superstars on the Probellum event.
Lewis Ritson continues his climb back to world level, Troy Williamson makes the maiden defence of his British light-middleweight title while Olympic silver medallist Pat McCormack is set for his professional debut.
You can add appearances from Adam Cope, Mark Dickinson, Alex Farrell, Joe Laws and Joe Maphosa.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
