# Martin Joseph Ward

Martin Joseph Ward (born 13 July 1991) 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 (Cadets) of the European Union in Porto Torres in the weight class under 46 kg, just edging out Hamza Touba from Germany in points (23-22). At the Junior European Championship (Cadets) of the same year in Siofok, he earned the bronze medal. He also won a bronze at the Junior World Championship (Cadets) 2007 in Baku, where he lost in the semi-final against Elvin Isayev from Azerbaijan by points (5-18).
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 (9-18). In 2009, he won another international title, the European Youth Championship (formerly Junior Championship) in Szczecin in featherweight, defeating in the final round Bunjamin Aydin from Turkey by points (4-0).
In 2010, Martin Ward became the first English featherweight champion with a points victory in the final over Ryan Farrag (18-4). Later that year he won the 1st Championship of Great Britain, where he defeated lightweight Josh Taylor from Scotland in the finals (10-9). 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 (20-6) and Ildar Vaganov from Russia (16-10) 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 (15-22) 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 (20-21), 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

| Year | Place | Competition | Weight class | Notes |
| 2007 | 1 | Junior European Union Championships (Cadets) in Porto Torres, Italy | under 46 kg | Points win over Erdi Alfaslan, Turkey (19-12), referee stopped contest in the first round over Alessandro Cubedau, Italy and points win over Hamza Touba, Germany (23-22) |
| 2007 | 3 | Junior European Championships (Cadets) in Siofok | under 46 kg | Points win over Catalin Gheorghe, Romania (21-20), referee stopped contest in the second round over Mikola Buzenko, Ukraine |
| 2007 | 3 | Junior World Championships (Cadets) in Baku | under 46 kg | Points victory over Robert Kanalas, Hungary (21-13) and Luis Cortes, USA (21:10) and points defeat against Elvin Isajew, Azerbaijan (5-18) |
| 2008 | 2 | Brandenburg-Cup (Junioren) in Frankfurt an der Oder | Flyweight | Points win over Alkan Özdemir, Turkey (18-5) and Dieter Geier, Germany (15-8) and points defeat against Qualid Belaoura, France (9-18) |
| 2008 | 9 | European Union Championship in Cetniewo | Flyweight | Points defeat against Kerem Guren, Turkey (12-14) |
| 2009 | 1 | Youth European Championship in Stettin | Featherweight | Points win over David Kanalas, Hungary (9-2), Wassili Tocu, Moldova (7-2), Elvin Alijew, Azerbaijan (8-0) und Bunjamin Aydin, Turkey (4-0) |
| 2009 | 1 | Tammer-Turnier in Tampere | Featherweight | Points win over Mikka Lehtinen, Finland (11-3) and Joe Ham, Scotland (9-4) |
| 2010 | 1 | Nations Cup in Wiener Neustadt | Lightweight | Points win over Ciaran Bates, Ireland (9-6) and Janosz Török, Hungary (4-2) |
| 2010 | 1 | British Championships in Manchester | Lightweight | Points win over Josh Taylor, Scotland (10-9) |
| 2011 | 2 | 62nd Strandja-Memorial in Pazardzhik | Lightweight | Points win over Vage Saruhanjan, Armenia (3-2), Ildar Waganow, Russia (+1:1) and Elvin Isajew (5-3) and points defeat against Airin Ismetow, Bulgaria (2-2+) |
| 2011 | 5 | Gee-Bee-Tournament in Helsinki | Lightweight | Points defeat against David Oliver Joyce, Ireland (4-16) |
| 2011 | 5 | European Championship in Ankara | Lightweight | Points win over Tomas Vano, Slovakia (20-6) and Ildar Waganaow (16:10) and points defeat against Vladimir Saruhanyan, Armenia (15-22) |
| 2011 | 17 | World Championship in Baku | Lightweight | Points win over Dragos Marin, Romania (15-7) and points defeat against Robson Conceição of Brazil (20-21) |
| 2011 | 1 | London International Invitational | Lightweight | Points win over Eugen Burhard (10-5) in final |

### English championships

| Year | Place | Weight class | Notes |
| 2009 | 3 | Bantamweight | disqualifying loss in the semi-final against James Allen |
| 2010 | 1 | Featherweight | points win in the final over Ryan Farrag (18-4) |

### International matches

| Year | Place | Weight class | Notes |
| 2007 | Dublin | Ireland vs. England (Junior) | bis 46 kg | points win over Neil Walker (21-4) |
| 2008 | Westport | Ireland vs. England | Featherweight | Points defeat against Carl Frampton (14-14+) |
| 2008 | Sligo/Irland | Ireland vs. England | Featherweight | points defeat against Willie Carey (11-11+) |
| 2008 | Gyöngyös | Hungary vs. England | Featherweight | points win over Miklós Ráth |
| 2008 | Hajdúszoboszló | Hungary vs. England | Featherweight | referee stopped contest in the second rough against Róbert Könnyű |
| 2010 | Stockholm | Sweden vs. England | Featherweight | points win over Bashir Hassan (2-1) |

## 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

| 28 fights | 24 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 11 | 2 |
| By decision | 13 | 0 |
| Draws | 2 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 28 | Loss | 24–2–2 | Azinga Fuzile | TKO | 7 (12), 2:55 | 29 May 2021 | Michelob Ultra Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US | |
| 27 | Win | 24–1–2 | Jesus Amparan | PTS | 10 | 8 Feb 2020 | FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield, England | |
| 26 | Win | 23–1–2 | Josue Bendana | TKO | 5 (8) | 31 Aug 2019 | The O2 Arena, London, England | |
| 25 | Win | 22–1–2 | Antonio Rodriguez | PTS | 6 | 18 May 2019 | SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland | |
| 24 | Win | 21–1–2 | Devis Boschiero | SD | 12 | 30 Nov 2018 | Teatro Obi Hall, Florence, Italy | Won vacant WBC International Silver super-featherweight title |
| 23 | Win | 20–1–2 | Mohammed Kambuluta | KO | 2 (6), 1:37 | 27 Oct 2018 | Copper Box Arena, London, England | |
| 22 | Loss | 19–1–2 | James Tennyson | TKO | 5 (12), 2:24 | 5 May 2018 | The O2 Arena, London, England | Lost European, and Commonwealth super-featherweight titles; For WBA International super-featherweight title |
| 21 | Win | 19–0–2 | Juli Giner | TKO | 6 (12), 1:30 | 13 Dec 2017 | York Hall, London, England | Won vacant European super-featherweight title |
| 20 | Win | 18–0–2 | Anthony Cacace | UD | 12 | 15 Jul 2017 | Wembley Arena, London, England | Retained British super-featherweight title; Won vacant Commonwealth super-featherweight title |
| 19 | Win | 17–0–2 | Maxi Hughes | UD | 12 | 25 Mar 2017 | Manchester Arena, Manchester, England | Retained British super-featherweight title |
| 18 | Win | 16–0–2 | Ronnie Clark | UD | 12 | 26 Nov 2016 | Wembley Arena, London, England | Retained British super-featherweight title |
| 17 | Win | 15–0–2 | Andy Townend | TKO | 8 (12), 0:54 | 10 Sep 2016 | The O2 Arena, London, England | Won vacant British super-featherweight title |
| 16 | Win | 14–0–2 | Ruddy Encarnacion | UD | 10 | 16 Apr 2016 | First Direct Arena, Leeds, England | Retained WBC International super-featherweight title |
| 15 | Win | 13–0–2 | Mario Pisanti | TKO | 3 (10), 2:44 | 30 Jan 2016 | Copper Box Arena, London, England | Retained WBC International super-featherweight title |
| 14 | Win | 12–0–2 | Sergio Blanco | UD | 10 | 1 Aug 2015 | Craven Park, Hull, England | Retained WBC International super-featherweight title |
| 13 | Win | 11–0–2 | Maxi Hughes | RTD | 5 (10), 3:00 | 11 Apr 2015 | First Direct Arena, Leeds, England | Won vacant WBC International super-featherweight title |
| 12 | Draw | 10–0–2 | Maxi Hughes | MD | 10 | 6 Dec 2014 | York Hall, London, England | |
| 11 | Win | 10–0–1 | Kakhaber Avetisian | TKO | 8 (8), 2:57 | 20 Sep 2014 | Wembley Arena, London, England | |
| 10 | Draw | 9–0–1 | Ian Bailey | TD | 1 (4), 1:41 | 31 May 2014 | Wembley Stadium, London, England | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Reynaldo Cajina | PTS | 4 | 21 May 2014 | First Direct Arena, Leeds, England | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Craig Woodruff | TKO | 4 (6), 1:36 | 1 Mar 2014 | Scottish Exhibition Centre, Glasgow, Scotland | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Ben Wager | TKO | 6 (6), 0:58 | 14 Dec 2013 | ExCel Arena, London, England | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Andy Harris | TKO | 3 (6), 2:30 | 25 May 2013 | The O2 Arena, London, England | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Kevin Hanks | TKO | 5 (6), 0:56 | 9 Mar 2013 | Wembley Arena, London, England | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Dougie Curran | PTS | 4 | 8 Dec 2012 | Olympia, London, England | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Dan Carr | PTS | 4 | 17 Nov 2012 | Capital FM Arena, Nottingham, England | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Simas Volosinas | PTS | 4 | 22 Sep 2012 | Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Kristian Laight | PTS | 4 | 8 Sep 2012 | Alexandra Palace, London, England | |