Lonsdale belt bid unlikely as Tommy Ward has eyes on world level bouts

The Hartlepool-trained fighter defended his super-bantamweight British title for the first time at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena on Saturday night, comfortably outpointing challenger Sean Davis, of Birmingham.

Ward would have to win two more fights at this level to get the belt for keeps, but he thinks he’s already outgrown domestic fights, and his eyes on a much bigger prize.

"It's up to (Frank) Warren, my trainer, etc, but I think I am better than British class. I would like to test myself," he said.

"I am not a manager or a promoter.

"What are my ambitions? I want to be world champion.

"I want to fight the best out there. I don’t care if I punch his head in or he punches mine in – I just want to know that I fought the best in their prime."

Ward’s speed, elusiveness and swiftness on the counter ultimately proved the difference on the night.

A cut suffered just above the right eye in the sixth did little to slow Ward’s progress, as the judges scored the contest 117-112, 118-111, 118-111.

And after the bout he admits the fight was just what the doctor ordered.

"It was a hard 12 rounds – the first of my career," said Ward, who had 15 stitches in two cuts above his right and left eye after the bout.

"Maybe I fought a couple of times when I should have been boxing but it was a learning fight for me.

"At the end of the day my boxing skills were superior - skills pay the bills."

On the same bill Glenn Foot felt like he was robbed of decision as his quest to become IBF European super-lightweight champion was derailed.

The Sunderland fighter was controversially outpointed by Guisborough’s Josh Leather.

In the contender for fight of the night, Foot dominated the opening exchanges, dropping the titlist in the second round with a shattering right.

Foot then piled on the pressure, going toe-to-toe with the younger man, forcing him into the kind of fight he wanted.

But the tide turned in the sixth when Foot was deducted a point for hitting after the break.

A lot of the meaningful stuff was landed by Foot with the flashier combinations coming from Leather.

In the 10th Foot’s knockdown of Leather was ruled out when he was deducted another point for repeatedly losing his gumshield.

Leather looked to shade the final rounds, which carried favour with the judges who scored it 114-111, 113-112, 115-110 in favour of Leather.

"I gave it everything. I honestly thought I had won it," said Foot.

"I know that I won the first nine rounds."

Foot added: "He was rubbish. He has got no power.

"He was flinging all of these flashy shots but there was no power there. I know I was hurting him with everything."