Team Ward Blasts "Dirty Fighter" Dickens Ahead of Rematch

By Terence Dooley

Martin Ward’s team have stoked up the heat ahead of his rematch with Jazza Dickens by claiming the the Liverpool-based boxer is a dirty fighter. 

The two boxers contest the vacant British Super bantamweight title on a Phil Jeffries-promoted bill at the Rainton Meadows Arena on July 27 and Ward (26-4-1, 5 KOs) will hope to gain revenge over the man who beat him by decision in November 2015 when defending the same title.

Dave Garside, who manages both Martin and his brother Tommy, who is also on the bill, has told the Evening Chronicle that Dickens makes frequent and deliberate use of the head and has warned whoever referees the bout to bear that in mind on the night.

“Martin's first fight with Jazza could have gone either way,” he said.  “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.”

He added: “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!”

Ward’s brother, Tommy, also features on the bill; he won the title by beating Dickens by Technical Decision in June and will contest the IBF European Super bantamweight title against an as yet unnamed opponent as he bids to move on to world-title contention.

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