Steven Ward – “If I had any hairs on my head I’m sure they would be standing up”
Saturday is going to be a special night for Steven Ward.
The Belfast light heavy makes his pro debut on a massive card in his home city and joked how “I just can’t wait to walk out there on Saturday night, if I had any hairs on my head I’m sure they would be standing up!”
The 2010 Commonwealth Games silver medalist makes his paid bow against Bulgarian Merdjidin Yuseinov at the Titanic Exhibition Centre.
The 26 year old is drinking the experience of fight week in and told Irish-Boxing.com that “I’m over the moon to be fighting in Belfast. It is something I have always dreamt of as an amateur, but to be doing it on my debut and on such a stacked card, I’m over the moon!”
“The support I have had is unreal, I swear, I was bombarded with people looking tickets, it really makes you feel humbled to have so many people, a few of them are rockets to do I expect them to make a lot of noise.”
The 26 year old freely admits to feeling nervous ahead of stepping out under the bright lights, and reasoned that “nerves are good, they always help you perform, I would be more worried if I didn’t have them! It’s using them nerves to get the best out of yourself at the right time, and it’s something I’ve done many a time in the amateur game.”
Ward is aiming to have a real go at the professional ranks, and has recently relocated to Oliver Harrison’s gym in Salford for training. While the move is still fresh, Ward is already seeing the difference, and explained how “Oliver is a great coach, and I haven’t been working with him for a long time, but in the time I have been, I’ve learned so much.”
“He really has me feeling comfortable in my own skin in the ring, and he has shown me a few things that I’ve never done before. As long as I perform I have no doubt it will be exciting.”
