Tommy Ward can, at last, begin to dream … dream of a challenge for a world championship.
The World Boxing Association have ordered a final featherweight eliminator fight between the unbeaten Co Durham star and fellow undefeated fighter Otabek Kholmatov.
Ward has spent the last four years in the top echelon of boxing, first at super-bantamweight and now feather, without getting a shot at the prize he craves.
While this is NOT a world title shot, victory for the WBA’s number one ranked 126lb boxer against the number two-rated fighter, from Uzbekistan, would make him the mandatory challenger.
With this being the WBA everything is not as straight forward as it may seem – the oldest of the sanctioning bodies has TWO title holders, Leo Santa Cruz is the ’super-world’ champion and Nottingham’s Leigh Wood is their ‘world’ champ.
Whatever the politics, and you know there is a lot of that in the sport, Ward is on the verge of something big if he can beat the USA-based fighter who has reeled off 10 straight wins.
Hartlepool fight figures, trainer Neil Fannan and boss Dave Garside, have guided Tommy to an incredible record of 33 wins and a draw and hope promoters Probellum and Wasserman can entice Kholmatov to the UK for this final eliminator.
Wasserman stage a major North-East show in December in Newcastle, headlined by Troy Williamson’s British light-middleweight championship defence against Josh Kelly.
“Hopefully it can be made for Newcastle,” said Fannan. “If not, it will go out to purse offers.
“It would seem Khlmatov has very good backers in Florida, so we could end up in America for the fight.
“But we’d love it to be in Newcastle.
“Personally, I feel a bit hard done by that Tommy’s had 34 fights, been up at the top for so long, without getting a world title shot.
“He’s deserved one, but no-one seems prepared to fight him.
“Tommy’s not going to get someone giving him a voluntary so this is the only way to move forward.”
Kholmatov appears to be a boxer in a hurry, in more ways than one.
The 24-year-old, born in Uzbekistan, is based in Hollywood, that’s Hollywood, Florida, not LA.
His rise has been meteoric, having only turned professional 14 months ago.
He raced through his first nine rivals, all via stoppage, though the Dominican Republic’s Juan Carlos Pena could be described as the only good opponent.
Last time out the southpaw beat Russia’s Andranik Grigorian on points at the Caribe Royale Orlando after 10 rounds.
“The lad’s an unknown quantity,” said Fannan. “He must have good backers after coming so far, so soon.
“I’ve had a look at him, he likes his opponents to come to him, just like Tommy likes it.
“It could be a difficult fight to win – for both men. Whoever susses the other one out first will win it.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins
