Ward must be patient for world title shot
County Durham’s Tommy Ward admits he must play the waiting game as he bids to land a shot at a world title.
Ward stopped German Tom Tran – beaten just once in seven fights – in spectacular fashion in the first round at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena on Saturday.
And the West Rainton fighter has been ordered by the International Boxing Federation to face Cesar Juarez in a final eliminator for their world title later this year.
The winner between Juarez and Ward will then become mandatory for TJ Doheny’s super-bantamweight title, though it is not set in stone this will go ahead.
And if it doesn’t, Ward admits he has other options, especially with a number of governing bodies placing him highly in their rankings.
“We are closing in on all of them. I am ranked number four by the IBO and number eight by the IBF. I am knocking on the doors,” Ward told the Echo.
“Even the WBC have me ranked at 11. I am closing in on them all.
“There is a show on November 30 but I am not 100% sure if I will be on it, or who it will be against. It may or may not be in the North East.
“We have to play a waiting game for another week or two then we will know what I will be doing for the rest of the year.”
Speaking to IFL TV, Ward, trained by Hartlepool’s Neil Fannan, admits he has no doubt he will be a world champion with one of the boxing governing bodies within the next 12 months.
When asked what the next year holds, the 24-yearold said: “World champion. Guaranteed.
“Whatever comes we will take with both hands. I want a world title. And that is the level I feel I am at.”