Tommy Ward to be cheer brother Martin to British championship glory then join him on the title trail

Both siblings are campaigning at super-bantamweight with Martin having the first crack at success.

The 27-year-old fights James Dickens for the Liverpool fighter’s belt at the Rainton Meadows Arena.

And Tommy’s wait might not take long.

The British Boxing Board of Control have ordered an English super-bantamweight title fight between Tommy Ward and Birmingham’s Gamal Yafai.

Purse bids are open until December 9 with the BBBC instructing that the winner iof the bid stages the 10-rounder before the end of March.

It would be inconceivable that promoter Phil Jeffries, in association with Ward’s bosses, Neil Fannan and Dave Garside, did not bid for it.

Yafai is the younger brother of British super-fly champion Kal, and has reeled off eight straight wins at the start of his pro career.

At 24, he is three years older than Ward but seven victories behind the Garside-Fannan talent who turned pro at the age of 18.

Tommy, who has a testing six rounder against Spain-based Nicaraguan Reynaldo Cajina on Friday night, believes there is scope for both Wards in the super-bantam division.

“There are plenty of titles out there for both of us, definitely,” said the younger Ward.

“Martin can go British then European and I can go English then Commonwealth.

“It would be nice if we got to a point when we owned all the belts in the division.

“I think big things will come next year,” said the younger Ward.

“I’m looking forward to Friday and, fingers crossed, it’s going to be Martin’s night.

“Dickens is very good, one of the best in the division in my view, but I’m very confident Martin will beat him.

“I’ve seen him train, watch him spar and I can see how good he is and what he’s capable of.

“But I have a job to do too. I’ll get my fight out the way, look to get a good win, then jump on the bandwagon.”

As he points out, there is a fight to be won on the undercard of Ward v Dickens before he can dream about titles.

Cajina will arrive in Houghton with a very fair record.

The 32-year-old, based in Barcelona, has won 14 and drawn five of his 48 bouts.

But he’s no mug, as he proved the last time he was in the UK when he drew with unbeaten Scottish prospect, Michael Roberts, in Glasgow.

“He’s a tough, strong lad who comes and give it all he’s got,” said Ward.

“Neil’s looking forward to it because he thinks this lad can test me.

“I’m excited myself to get in and have a bit of a fight.

“If he comes for it, I’m no going anywhere am I, it’s only a small ring!

“But I believe in my boxing skills and if I use them, I believe I can beat anyone.

“If he comes for a fight, he’ll get one!

“I’ll be looking to please Neil and show him that I’m ready for a title fight next year.”