SECONDSOUT Memorial for tragic fighter
WARD CAMP CLAIM ‘JAZZA’ DICKENS SHOULD BOX ‘WITH A GLOVE ON HIS HEAD’
TRAGIC boxer Scott Westgarth has been honoured by his home town of Prudhoe.
Dad John, mum Rebecca Marshall and family unveiled a memorial seat along with a plaque in The Glade, where tribute is also paid to another famous Prudhoe boy Henry Travis, who starred in the Hollywood classic It’s A Wonderful Life alongside James Stewart.
I was among the crowd to pay homage to a true fighting man of Tyneside.
Scott died after winning a fight on February 24. He was rushed to hospital following his points victory over Dec Spelman in an English light heavyweight eliminator at the Doncaster Dome and his death was confirmed shortly afterwards.
Scott was fighting out of Sheffield at the time. DAVE GARSIDE has taken a swipe at James “Jazza” Dickens ahead of the Scouser’s rematch with Martin Ward at the Rainton Meadows Arena on July 27.
Garside, who manages Martin and his brother Tommy, says Dickens “needs to fight with a glove on his head” in a biting remark about Dickens’ alleged regular use of the head.
County Durham’s Ward faces Dickens for the British super bantamweight title and the war of words between the southpaws’ camps is heating up ahead of the highlyanticipated clash.
Martin and Jazza originally squared off in 2015 for the same title, with Dickens edging it on a split decision. That contest was a bloody affair with Ward having to veer from his game plan after suffering serious lacerations from head clashes.
Cuts aren’t a new thing for Martin, of course. He saw his 2014 IBF World bantamweight challenge to Darlington’s Stuart Hall called off after just two rounds when another head clash ended his title hopes.
“Martin’s first fight with Jazza could have gone either way,” insisted Garside who fought for the British heavyweight crown in 1987.
“Martin was cut and had to box totally different to how he normally boxes. It was also Martin’s first fight at super bantamweight – he’s a lot stronger now, and I suspect you’ll see a different Martin Ward in there.
“He will have learned from that first bout and I’m very confident. I have a lot of faith in Martin.”
And he alleged: “Jazza is a good fighter but if you look at the last few people he’s boxed they have all ended up with multiple stitches and that’s through use of the head.
“I just hope the ref is going to look after the fighters properly. He’s a nice kid Jazza Dickens but he needs to have a boxing glove on his head!”
Sharing top billing in the North East will be Martin’s brother Tommy, who took the British belt off Dickens in May 2017 before recently vacating.
The 24-year-old is now concentrating on the world stage and, originally slated to fight Ionut Baluta, now goes for the vacant IBF European super bantamweight strap against Spain’s Alvaro Rodriguez.
And Garside alleged: “When you look at Tommy Ward against Jazza, Tommy never lost a round. People said Jazza was coming back, but all Jazza did was butt him in the face and cut his head.
“Jazza was completely out boxed for the first seven rounds. Tommy has his man-strength now, he’s not a boy any more, and he’s sitting down on his shots a lot more.
“He’s a beautiful boxer. Tommy will get the job done.”