Boxer Martin Ward has home advantage for European title fight with Spain's Abigail Medina

Martin Ward will have home advantage when he fights for the European title.
Martin Ward in action in his last fight. Picture by TOM COLLINSMartin Ward in action in his last fight. Picture by TOM COLLINS
Martin Ward in action in his last fight. Picture by TOM COLLINS

Team Ward, Phil Jeffries, Dave Garside and Neil Fannan have won the purse bids for the talented Hartlepool boxer's challenge for Spain's Abigail Medina's super-bantamweight belt.

The promoters hope to attract TV coverage for the contest which is likely to be staged at Hartlepool's iconic Borough Hall or the Rainton Meadows Arena in Houghton early in the summer.

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Ward had been scheduled to box for the vacant European Union title earlier this month only for his opponent to be suspended on a disciplinary issue.

But the European Boxing Union made the 28-year-old the mandatory challenger to Medina.

And Team Ward are thrilled to have clinched the rights to stage the contest.

"I'm buzzing," said Jeffries. "Martin deserves to be boxing in front of his fans and I'm over the moon we won the purse bids."

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Fannan added: "Martin had some bad luck when his EU fight fell through but he then had some good fortune when the EBU made him the mandatory European title challenger.

"Now we'll be looking to capitalise on that and making him the European challenger.

"It's nice to have home advantage and we'll be looking now to see if we can get a TV broadcaster."

Medina will be making the maiden defence of the belt, having outpointed France's Jeremy Parodi in Gran Canaria in December.

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The 28-year-old boasts a record of 17 victories (eight inside the distance) with two draws and only three defeats.

Ward has 25 wins on his record (five early), plus one draw and three defeats.

"Medina does look a good boxer," said Fannan. "But he's beaten non-one that Martin could not beat.

"He's good but this is a match Martin is more than capable of winning."

Ward warmed up for the bout at the Rainton Meadows Arena earlier this month when he outpointed Latvian Dimitrijs Gutmans over six rounds.