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.^[1] Some of his brothers, 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.^[1] He trains at the Repton Boxing Club in Bethnal Green.^[2] In August 2012, he and his brother John Ward were shot on farmland in Essex in what Essex police called a "neighbour feud."^[3] Francis O'Donoghue was sentenced to sixteen and half years for the shooting.^[4]

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.^[1] For this reason, he was not selected to participate in the Olympic Games in London.

Professional career

He began his professional career on 8 September 2012, where he has had considerable success.

Professional boxing record

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 Mar 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

References

External links

• Boxing record for Martin Joseph Ward from BoxRec (registration required)
• Martin Joseph Ward - Profile, News Archive & Current Rankings at Box.Live