Martin Ward will face Stuart Hall in the first world title fight between two North-east boxers at Newcastle Arena
Martin Ward believes he has been perfectly prepared for his bid to dethrone IBF bantamweight champion Stuart Hall after sparring world class South African Tshifhiwa Munyai.
Ward will try to take down Darlington’s Hall in the first world title fight between two North-east boxers at Newcastle Arena on March 29.
And the West Rainton southpaw says he has had the ideal build-up after doing the bulk of his sparring with WBA No 10 ranked super-bantamweight Munyai.
The Johannesburg-based fighter is nicknamed the Atomic Spider for his knockout power and abnormally long limbs.
And he boasts a stoppage win over European bantamweight champion Lee Haskins, who has beaten both Hall and Ward.
Commonwealth champion Ward, 25, said: “I’ve couldn’t have got any better sparring than Munyai.
“I’ve been sparring another South African lad called Michael Ramabeletsa as well.
“He is better than his record suggests and will find you out if you aren’t on your game.
“But we brought Munyai over because he is world class, and he is very similar in size and style to Stuey Hall.
“He is at you all the time and throws a lot of straight right hands like Stuey, and he is quite physical.
“He is elusive and very rangy as well.
“He looks like he is in range, but then you go to hit him and he’s not there.
“I think I’m good at judging distance, but his arms are so long that he is able to catch you and you’re left wondering where it came from.
“I rate Stuey Hall as world class but, in my opinion, I think Munyaiis a couple of levels above him.
“I’m definitely ready to produce the performance of my life.”
Neil Fannan-trained Ward added: “I won’t badmouth Stuey Hall before the fight or after it, I’ve got nothing but respect for him.
“But he has got what I want, and I’m going to do my best to get it.”
Munyai - currently chasing a fight with Bury’s WBA super-bantamweight champion Scott Quigg - thinks Ward stands a good chance of beating the Darlington champion on the evidence of their gym collisions in 16 ounce gloves and headguards.
He said: “Based on sparring, Martin has got good speed and movement.
“He has got good head movement every now and then and a high work rate and good counter punching.
“I think if he does what he does in sparring in the ring, he will bring back the title.”
The former Commonwealth bantamweight champion and reigning WBA Pan African super- bantam holder feels Hall is beatable going on his last performance, when he won the title on a gruelling 12-round points decision against his compatriot Vusi Malinga.
Munyai added: “If he was that good, he would have stopped him. Vusi isn’t at his best.”
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