Bored Ward ready to jump on any title chance

Steven Ward [10(3)-0] cruised through his fight at the weekend and is intending to stay sharp as he awaits a title opportunity.

The Newtownabbey light heavyweight hit a career milestone on Friday night at the Ulster Hall when he outpointed Josip Perkovic over eight rounds.

It was a largely one-sided affair against a Croatian opponent that gave Hosea Burton trouble last year and Ward admits he found himself getting a bit ‘bored’ during the contest.

‘The Quiet Man’ noted how “whenever I boxed him in the first couple of rounds and the last few it was so easy. I think that might be the problem I was a bit bored.”

“I felt I was a level above him and at times I switched off. If you in with someone good, I was sparring [Liam] Conroy and did rounds with him in camp and I felt really really good. It gave me confidence and makes you think you should be up there.”

“I felt I buzzed him in the sixth, but the shots I threw after that I may aswell have thrown a handful of rice at him. I was thinking there is enough noise and the enough punches coming in the ref might have jumped in, but he didn’t. The main thing is I got composed again and boxed well after.”

Now finally at the 10-0 mark, Ward is plotting progression.

The Ulsterman has endured many, many full camps as Carl Frampton and the like prepared for championship fights while he geared up for journeyman.

Ward intends to keep training as such and believes it will pay off if and when a title opportunity arises – but he doesn’t intend to call-out any names.

“The are couple I have my eye on,” he admits before quickly adding that “there is no point in me calling anyone out because I don’t really have a say in it. That is the management’s job and they are good it.”

“There is one I’d love to fight – my fantasy fight, and people would take the piss, espically the boys because they say I fancy him, but I’d love to fight Bivol. I’d love to fight him just because he is so good. Bivol if you’re reading this get in touch!”

“But honestly I am just going to stay fit and ready and with MTK anything can happen. If they phone me and say you have a British title or Commonwealth title in four weeks I want to be ready and I think I am ready.”

steve