Not ready to hang up his gloves just yet.
And who can blame Tommy Ward, or Thomas Patrick Ward if you are of that persuasion. He plans to chase down titles with his mentor and legendary Hartlepool trainer Neil Fannan, probably up at super-featherweight.
There were some doubts surrounding the future of the 30-year-old after he lost for just the second time in his career, when outpointed by undefeated Welshman Rhys Edwards in Cardiff for the WBA Inter-continental featherweight title.
Ward’s highly-impressive fight log of 34-2-1 will NOT be his final stat.
“There was a lot of talk after the Edwards fight of it coming to an end and I don’t know where that came from,” said the gifted boxer, who has spent his entire career under Hartlepool fight figures Dave Garside and Fannan.
“I’m only 30 and I’ve only lost twice.
“There are plenty of good fights out there and that’s what I’ll be looking for.
“I’m back in the gym and hopefully be boxing before the end of the year and winning titles again in 2025.”
Ward has been in and around the summit of the game ever since he became British super-bantamweight champion in 2017.
The NES Security-sponsored star spent the best part of four years in the top four of the World Boxing Organisation’s rankings, winning two notable belts en-route, the IBF European and the North America Boxing Association, the latter success over USA’s Jesse Angel Hernandez at the Kansas Star Arena probably the stand-out performance.
Sadly, no world title shot came and after fighting with the scales at super-bantam he stepped up to featherweight, where he would soon establish himself in the top bracket at 9st too.
And in March 2023, he took on Otabek Kholmatov in a WBA featherweight final eliminator In Newcastle, where the Florida-based Uzbekistan giant inflicted a first career defeat on Ward, stopping his brave bid in the fifth round.
It ended the longest unbeaten run in British boxing, a record he shared with none other than Tyson Fury.
Ward only resumed in March this year with a sparkling win over African Amani Bariki in Houghton before that loss to Edwards.
Tommy gave it his all yet the scorecards of the judges, 98-92 (twice) and 99-91 did not reflect his contribution to the bout.
Ward says he takes full blame for defeat at the Cardiff International Arena.
“Neil had a game-plan and I didn’t follow it,” he explained. “It was my fault. “For whatever reason, I’ve not listened to him.
“I took the fight to Rhys – I was the away fighter in a full Welsh stadium and I probably needed a knock-out to get the win. If you look at the scorecards then I think that was the case.
“I do believe that the best Tommy Ward on the night beats that kid.
“Maybe the long breaks I’ve had from fighting and the stop-start nature of my career was a bit of a factor.
“I still enjoyed the occasion and these are the fight-nights I’m craving.
“I’d like a fight this year and a few next year.
“I want new challenges and meaningful fights, I’m done with the little ones. They are no good for me, not at the stage of my career.”
Fannan has proposed a move to super-featherweight (9st 4lb) which could present the “new challenge” that Ward mentioned.
“We could juggle between the two weights,” said Tommy. “None of the world champions at featherweight would fight me.
“The super-feathers might see me as small and fancy it, so the fights might come there. “But I’m ready to fight on and rock and roll again.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Lawrence Lustig/ BOXXER
