WEST RAINTON’S Tommy Ward will attempt to extract some family revenge when he taken on James ‘Jazza’ Dickens for the British Super Bantamweight title in Leeds tonight.

Dickens claimed the British title when he beat Ward’s elder brother, Martin, in November 2015, and is on the comeback trail after losing to Guillermo Rigondeaux in a World title fight last July.

Tommy, who turns 23 next week, made his debut nearly five years ago, and has made giant strides since signing with Frank Warren.

Boasting an undefeated record that features 20 wins and two stoppages, Ward claims to be ready for the biggest fight of his career, and is delighted to be competing at Leeds’ First Direct Arena as the main support to Josh Warrington’s World Featherweight bout with Kiko Martinez.

“I’m really glad that I’ve signed with someone like Frank Warren and it can only mean big things for me and my career,” said Ward. “I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds and I’m in there to do a job. I keep doing that, and Frank will no doubt put the big names in front of me and bring big shows back to the region.”

Ward has risen steadily in the last two years, beating the likes of Isaac Owusu, Everth Briceno, Robbie Turley and Norbert Kalucza to get his shot at a British belt.

“Every opponent I’ve had has been different and they all lead to the big ones, like this against Jazza,” he said. “Styles make fights and this is no different, we’re both good fighters, really good fighters, so it’ll be a great fight to see.

“The same with the other, local lads, on the undercard; I’m sure that Josh (Leather) will win his title fight, and you’ve also got his brother Kalam, and Joe (Maphosa) fighting – that’s fantastic for the region.”

Ward watched Dickens beat his brother a year-and-a-half ago, and admits he is hoping for some payback when he enters the ring tonight.

“Yes, I suppose there’s a bit of revenge attached to it,” he said. “But I won’t think about that, I’ve got a job to do myself and that is winning the British title.”

The undercard sees the undefeated Leather, who is based in Guisborough, step up to 12 rounds when he takes on Philip Sutcliffe Jnr for the IBF Inter-Continental Super Lightweight belt.

Tonight’s other big card is staged at Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena, and will see Sunderland’s Josh Kelly continue his professional progression when he takes on Jony Vina on the undercard of Khalid Yafai’s WBA World Super Flyweight clash with Suguru Muranaka.

The former Olympian will be making his second appearance as a professional, and is drawing inspiration from the progress made by some of Britain’s other ex-amateurs.

“I look at Anthony Joshua and Kal Yafai, who were in the Team GB set-up like me, and it’s inspiring,” said Kelly. “I watched them both train, and I get on with them both as well. Seeing how they have developed and what they have got drives me on.

“It was only a couple of years ago they were on the GB squad, so with the hard work I know I can follow in their footsteps.”