By Terence Dooley
West Rainton-based Martin Ward (26-4-1, 5 KOs) meets Jazza Dickens (23-3, 8 early) for the second time when they contest the vacant British Super bantamweight title at the Rainton Meadows Arena on July 27 and the 30-year-old wants to go 1-1 in his rivalry with Dickens, who beat him by a Split Decision for the same title in November 2015.
His brother, Tommy, also features on the show; he beat Dickens by Technical Decision in May of last year to lift the belt, which he has vacated in order to pursue world honours.
Tommy meets Ionut Baluta for the IBF’s European belt on the Phil Jeffries-promoted bill then will watch his brother contest his former title in what Jeffies believes is a very winnable fight.
“Martin fighting Jazza again will be exciting,” he said when speaking to the Evening Chronicle. “I thought Jazza just beat him last time but it was a dirty fight — Martin was cut to bits, just like Tommy was cut to bits in his fight with Jazza. Martin will have learned from that first fight, though, and I think he will beat him this time.”
He added: “This will be a good show, we will have a lot of good prospects on the undercard, and it is really good to be working with Dennis [Hobson] again.”
“Martin has fallen short twice in title fights but he has matured and hopefully learned from those defeats,” said Hobson, who has secured a spot on TV for the show via Freesports. “I have been involved with fighters who have lost fights but improved — and hopefully Martin will show that too.”
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