Martin Joseph Ward


Martin Joseph Ward is a British professional boxer. He held the British super-featherweight title from 2016 to 2017, and the Commonwealth and European super-featherweight titles from 2017 to 2018.

Life

Martin Ward is the son of a builder, and one of five children. Some of his brothers were boxers, including John Ward, who in 2010 was the Junior European champion in his weight class. He attended Sawyers Hall College, but left school at age 14. He trains at the Repton Boxing Club in Bethnal Green. In August 2012, he and his brother John Ward were shot on farmland in Essex in what Essex police called a "neighbour feud." Francis O'Donoghue was sentenced to sixteen and half years for the shooting.

Amateur career

Martin Ward won the title in 2007 at the Junior European Union Championships of the European Union in Porto Torres in the weight class under 46 kg, just edging out Hamza Touba from Germany in points. At the Junior European Championship of the same year in Siofok, he earned the bronze medal. He also won a bronze at the Junior World Championship 2007 in Baku, where he lost in the semi-final against Elvin Isayev from Azerbaijan by points.
In 2008, he earned a silver in flyweight at the Brandenburg Cup in Frankfurt an der Oder, losing to Qualid Berlaoura from France to points. In 2009, he won another international title, the European Youth Championship in Szczecin in featherweight, defeating in the final round Bunjamin Aydin from Turkey by points.
In 2010, Martin Ward became the first English featherweight champion with a points victory in the final over Ryan Farrag. Later that year he won the 1st Championship of Great Britain, where he defeated lightweight Josh Taylor from Scotland in the finals. He qualified in England for participation in the 2011 European Amateur Boxing Championships in Ankara in lightweight. He started there in lightweight, defeating Tomas Vano from Slovakia and Ildar Vaganov from Russia to points. His victory over Vaganov, in particular, caused a stir, but in the quarterfinals, he was defeated by Vladimir Saruhanyan from Armenia to points and thus finished fifth.
Based on these successes, he was hopeful of being able to participate in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. However, in the 2011 World Championships in Baku he was defeated in the second round by Robson Conceição of Brazil, after being docked two points by the referee. For this reason, he was not selected to participate in the Olympic Games in London.

International championships

YearPlaceCompetitionWeight classNotes
20071Junior European Union Championships in Porto Torres, Italyunder 46 kgPoints win over Erdi Alfaslan, Turkey, referee stopped contest in the first round over Alessandro Cubedau, Italy and points win over Hamza Touba, Germany
20073Junior European Championships in Siofokunder 46 kgPoints win over Catalin Gheorghe, Romania, referee stopped contest in the second round over Mikola Buzenko, Ukraine
20073Junior World Championships in Bakuunder 46 kgPoints victory over Robert Kanalas, Hungary and Luis Cortes, USA and points defeat against Elvin Isajew, Azerbaijan
20082Brandenburg-Cup in Frankfurt an der OderFlyweightPoints win over Alkan Özdemir, Turkey and Dieter Geier, Germany and points defeat against Qualid Belaoura, France
20089European Union Championship in CetniewoFlyweightPoints defeat against Kerem Guren, Turkey
20091Youth European Championship in StettinFeatherweightPoints win over David Kanalas, Hungary, Wassili Tocu, Moldova, Elvin Alijew, Azerbaijan und Bunjamin Aydin, Turkey
20091Tammer-Turnier in TampereFeatherweightPoints win over Mikka Lehtinen, Finland and Joe Ham, Scotland
20101Nations Cup in Wiener NeustadtLightweightPoints win over Ciaran Bates, Ireland and Janosz Török, Hungary
20101British Championships in ManchesterLightweightPoints win over Josh Taylor, Scotland
2011262nd Strandja-Memorial in PazardzhikLightweightPoints win over Vage Saruhanjan, Armenia, Ildar Waganow, Russia and Elvin Isajew and points defeat against Airin Ismetow, Bulgaria
20115Gee-Bee-Tournament in HelsinkiLightweightPoints defeat against David Oliver Joyce, Ireland
20115European Championship in AnkaraLightweightPoints win over Tomas Vano, Slovakia and Ildar Waganaow and points defeat against Vladimir Saruhanyan, Armenia
201117World Championship in BakuLightweightPoints win over Dragos Marin, Romania and points defeat against Robson Conceição of Brazil
20111London International InvitationalLightweightPoints win over Eugen Burhard in final

English championships

YearPlaceWeight classNotes
20093Bantamweightdisqualifying loss in the semi-final against James Allen
20101Featherweightpoints win in the final over Ryan Farrag

International matches

YearPlaceWeight classNotes-
2007DublinIreland vs. England bis 46 kgpoints win over Neil Walker
2008WestportIreland vs. EnglandFeatherweightPoints defeat against Carl Frampton
2008Sligo/IrlandIreland vs. EnglandFeatherweightpoints defeat against Willie Carey
2008GyöngyösHungary vs. EnglandFeatherweightpoints win over Miklós Ráth
2008HajdúszoboszlóHungary vs. EnglandFeatherweightreferee stopped contest in the second rough against Róbert Könnyű
2010StockholmSweden vs. EnglandFeatherweightpoints win over Bashir Hassan

Professional career

He began his professional career on 8 September 2012, where he has had considerable success.

Ward vs. Boschiero

Ward fought Devis Boschiero on 30 November 2018. Boschiero went into the fight ranked at #11 by the IBF at super featherweight. The scorecards were announced as in favor of Ward, who won by split decision.

Ward vs. Amparan

On 8 February 2020, Ward beat Jesus Amparan by points in the 10th round.

Ward. vs Fuzile

On 29 May 2021, Azinga Fuzile beat Ward by technical knockout in the 8th round. Fuzile was ranked number 5 by the IBF at super featherweight.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
28Loss