WEST Rainton’s Tommy Ward finally gets a shot at big time boxing when he fights Welshman Robbie Turley in a British super bantamweight, writes Peter Mann.

The opportunity on March 5 comes on the back of what was an incredible 2015 for the 21-year-old, who took his unbeaten record to 16 with five straight wins, winning every round along the way.

His five successes came against increasing opposition culminating with a six round success against Nicaraguan stalwart, Erith Briceno, at Rainton Meadows late last year.

The 37-year-old arrived having stopped 26 of his 35 opponents and had previously challenged for nine (winning four) titles over a 15-year career and had been in the ring with world-renowned fighters such as Juan Mercedes, Omar Andres Novaez, Leo Santa Cruz, Khalid Yafai and Kiko Martinez.

Speaking of his perfect, 60-54, win over the Nicaraguan at Rainton Meadows, Ward said: “I was originally scheduled to face (Reynaldo) Cajina but found out on the Tuesday night of fight week that it had been changed (to Briceno).

“He (Briceno) was definitely a puncher and it was a really good fight to be in and was the step up I needed really and I just boxed to my abilities and made a good fighter look pretty average. It was a hard fight though and I’m please Neil Fannan (Tommy’s trainer) had the confidence in me to take it as Briceno certainly wasn’t no journeyman.”

His trainer, Fannan, who has built Tommy up since arriving in the pro ranks in 2012, said: “Tommy has done everything that I could have asked of him and more and he needs a fight like this (against Yafai) to get him on top form.

“After he defeated Briceno I did, for the first time, asked his opinion and he said to me that Tommy was clever, fast and hard to hit so it suited him more than anything really.”

Next up for the super bantamweight prospect, in fight number 17, is Ccefn Forest’s Turley, who brings a decent 16-5(3) record to the North-East.

“This is it for me, the breakthrough I’ve needed and who knows how far I can go,” added Tommy, younger brother of title contender Martin Ward. “I’m really looking forward to getting out there and can’t wait to show what Tommy Ward can do. Although I’m not looking past him (Turley) we’re both aware the winner gets a shot at Dickens and I want that, for my brother.

“Turley though is a hard, tricky, wiry, loose fighter, a very unorthodox opponent and from whom I’ll be expecting a tough fight. Now the game has stepped up I’m fighting the best in Britain and he’s been in with some good opponents as it is so will definitely be trying to cause me some problems but this is my time to shine."

Ward opposes Turley as the headline to Phil Jeffries’ ‘Blockbuster’ show at the Rainton Meadows Arena on March 5 and has an undercard that will feature Martin Ward, Thomas Essomba, Glenn Foot, Simon Vallily and Warren Baister.