Debutant watch - Tommy Ward
Britain’s cruiserweights had better watch out! Leicester boxer Tommy Ward is turning pro and has ambitions of making it to the top.
The 22 year-old prospect will make his debut on Clifton Mitchell's Graduation Day fight card on 25th September.
What made you want to start boxing?
We moved over from Galway when we were young and a lot of kids used to discriminate against us because of our Irish traveller background, so me and my brother were fighting everyone on the streets. My father just took us down to the boxing club and we just loved it. We just stuck with it from then as we both love to fight. My dad used to do a bit of bare knuckle fighting and we would get up for breakfast at 7 o’clock before school and he would be coming home from his early morning run. We used to see him train hard and he would come back from a fight with black eyes and cuts and we used to think to ourselves “We need to train hard because dad trains hard and he’s still gets hurt.”
Did you have a boxing idol when you were younger?
Everybody loved Muhammad Ali when we were growing up, I just loved his charisma. He was a real character and a great boxer.
Did you do much amateur boxing?
I did some amateur boxing in with the Belgrade Boxing Club in Leicester. I was getting a few injuries so it was a bit stop-start. My first season I had braces and had to stop, another season I broke my elbow and had more time off. When I was 17 I won the national Four Nations title and I also won a Junior ABA title.
How do you know the time is right to turn pro?
I had boxed at a high level as an amateur so felt the time is right. I am 22 now and a lot more mature than when I was boxing amateur. It’s now or never basically, I don’t want to be one of these old guys looking back thinking I wish I had done that when I was younger.
Do you see a difference in the pro and amateur codes?
The training is a lot harder for starters, also in the pros you can take your time a lot more. I don’t think the three rounds in the amateurs are enough. You have to just get in there and get the points quick as you can. As a pro you can pace yourself better and pick your shots.
Do you work full time alongside boxing?
I work as well, I’ve got my own pickup truck and I work all week. If my boxing takes off good it can be my full time job. I drive over to Clifton’s gym at around four o’clock after work and get on with the training.
What sort of fighting style do you have?
I’m an aggressive fighter and I like to push forward. If I'm coming forward and losing I can adapt my style and box a bit more. I think as the level of opponent improves I will start to box better.
What ambitions/expectations do you have for your pro career?
Obviously I want to be a world champion, people must tell you that all the time! I would love to fight in America and be the main event on a bill in Las Vegas. I would feel like king of the world headlining a show out there. Everyone loves the big fight hype and that’s where I want to be.
