Hall's going to wish he'd done more homework, more roadwork and more training - Ward

Tonight, at the Metro Radio Arena, he is out to ram the critics’ opinions down their throats.

• Don't miss our live coverage on Saturday night here at northernecho.co.uk as Nick Loughlin and Paul Fraser report live from ringside at Newcastle Metro Radio Arena

Stuart Hall is the IBF Bantamweight champion, and odds-on favourite Ward the challenger and 3/1 outsider.

Hall wants to keep the belt and, with the chance of a spot on the same Wembley Stadium bill as the Carl Froch v George Groves scrap in May, he has it all to go for. Or, as Ward sees it, all to lose.

“You can’t go beyond the man in front of you,’’ he insisted. “That’s Hall’s problem – he’s already got his next fights lined up and I’ve got one man in mind and that’s him, while he’s overlooked me.

“So when he gets hit and keeps getting hit then he’s going to think he should have done some more homework, more roadwork, more training. He’s having doubts the more the fight goes on, the more I’m schooling him.

“He’s already talking about retirement. Four rounds in, he hasn’t won one and what’s he thinking? Chuck the towel in, I don’t need this.

“That’s how I see it going. I start fast, be ahead four rounds in and pushing it. He won’t get any closer.’’ After Hall’s memorable win over Vusi Malinga in December, the Darlington pugilist earned respect after one of the fights of the year.

While the 12-rounder that night took Hall the distance, Ward, from West Rainton in County Durham, is more than willing to go the same tonight.

Durability could be the watchword this evening.

“I’m there to get stuck in when I have to. Coming from my background you know that,’’ insisted Ward.

“I’ll be disowned by the travelling community, chucked aside, if I didn’t do what I can do. I’m as keen as mustard, as fit as a fiddle, as game as they come.

“I will walk through walls to beat him. He’s had his big night and I don’t think he can go to the well again – I think the well is drained after his last fight.

“I’m 26 years old and my well is full.’’ And, with plenty of pundits and fight fans expecting Hall to keep the belt, Ward insists he is more than capable of proving the punters wrong – and more.

“People are writing me off all the time. Why? Who has Stuart Hall beat who I couldn’t beat?’’ he asked.

“Sergio Parales is a good fighter, Malinga is a good fighter. I believe I would beat Malinga all day long.

“Perales is a different kettle of fish, but I feel he beat Hall anyway even though Hall got the decision.

“Who has he beat I couldn’t? Lee Haskins schooled him, Jamie McDonnell schooled him. It’s a bit stupid to write me off and people who don’t know about boxing are saying Stuey Hall will do a job on me in four or five rounds.

“That’s pathetic. They’ve not seen me fight if they think like that and it’s starting to wind me up a bit to be honest.

“Obviously I’m not going to get wound up to the hype and sit and have a war with him – I believe he wants that.

“I’m going to do what Haskins, McDonnell and Perales all did to him – box him and school him. He will get so frustrated, he lets that right hand go wild, and gets picked off.

“We have all seen how easy his face goes up and on Saturday I will do the same.

“I’m not going in there to run away from him, I’m in there to do what I do best – hit and not get hit. Ill hit him every time he gets in front of me and I’ll be away from him when he comes to it, simple as that.

“He’s a one-trick pony, come forward and get stuck in. People think Martin Ward can only run away and box, if it’s about standing up and having a go, I’m more than capable of it. No fear. I can guarantee it.’’

Ward, Commonwealth champion, is proud of his roots, the travellers site at West Rainton and the village itself will be empty tonight, as they show their support .

“It’s a great night for the area and not just with the travelling community,’’ he said. “I’m from West Rainton and everyone in the village has tickets for it. They all are there and backing me, I’m one of the boys.

“There’s no needle between me and Stuey – he’s a genuine nice fella, a family man the same as myself.

“He’s had to go through a lot to get what he’s got. There’s not only me wanting his title – every bantamweight in the world wants it.

“Is he going to be saying the same rubbish about everyone else?

“Come on, let’s get real. We are all in the game to win world titles.’’

Ward, trained in Hartlepool, has world title experience in his corner. Neil Fannon took Michael Hunter to that level – for IBF super-bantamweight title – in 2010, when he was beaten by Steve Molitor at the town’s Borough Hall.

“I’ve got in Neil Fannon the best trainer in the world,’’ insisted Ward. “He is the most open and dedicated man on the planet and he gets the best out of me, so even if I have to go somewhere I’ve never been before I can make it and I’m prepared to.

“Neil knows what it takes and he’s told me in the gym I’ve got it all and I can do it – what more can you get than a man who has been there with another great champion in Michael Hunter?

“He tells me I can do it. For my trainer to say the things he does, he’s a genuine man. He wouldn’t say it if he didn’t believe I could do it and I believe I am going to do it.’’