WEST Rainton’s hottest prospect, Tommy Ward, has had the incentive of the Commonwealth super bantamweight strap added to his final eliminator contest with Gamal Yafai this summer, writes PETER MANN.

Initially set to face Yafai before finally opposing Robbie Turley last time out, Ward is now set to challenge the Birmingham-based fighter for the chance to oppose James 'Jazza' Dickens for the British strap later in the year.

With 17 bouts in under four years, Tommy, who is only 21-years-old, has served a more than impressive apprenticeship, his last six bouts alone showing a massive jump in class and skill for one so young.

Fighters such as Isaac Owusu, Nasidu Ramadhani, Everth Briceno and, in his last outing, Wales’ Robbie Turley, have come unstuck against Rainton’s Young Gun. For Tommy though, it’s business as usual and it makes no difference who is in front, he’ll meet the challenge head on.

“Even if I have to wait a little longer to fight for the British title it’s certainly a good thing that (Gamal) Yafai has the Commonwealth,” said Tommy.

“He (Yafai) was supposed to face me for the English, then it was Turley in an eliminator, and now it’s back to Yafai. It’s all good though and it’s all working towards my facing (Jazza) Dickens.

“We’d not planned for the Commonwealth this year but, if I had that to the British later in the year then it’ll have been a good one for me; who knows I may even get a European shot as well to head into next year with.”

Purse bid for the clash between Tommy Ward and Gamal Yafai for the Commonwealth title and a final eliminator for the British at super bantamweight will be announced on May 11 with the contest expected to take place by the end of August.