Video: Steve Ward on his training regime ahead of his last ever fight
The oldest professional boxer on the planet from Nottinghamshire will retire after a world title fight in Mansfield.
60-year-old Steve Ward from Mansfield will fight for the WBC super veteran heavyweight champion of the world title in July at the Mansfield Civic Centre.
His opponent is German national champion Andreas Sidon who knocked out Danny Williams in his last fight, the Englishman who beat Mike Tyson.
The 54-year-old German has 45 wins with 36 by way of knockout and 11 losses having been knocked out six times.
Ward has a professional record of 15 wins with one knockout but has lost 40 times having been knocked out 14 times.
However the stats are not stopping him from targeting international glory.
Speaking on Sports Week, Ward said: “There will be no more after this one – I’ve been told that by the wife anyhow.
“They don’t come any higher than that; I’ve got the chance to go out at the top and it’s not just a boxing man’s dream, but any sportsman’s dream.
“It would be the best thing to bring home the belt; it’s the first time it’s being fought for so it’s not just about the belt but more Guinness World Records and, most importantly, the history books.”
Ward has come up through the weights to make the fight against Sidon happen.
He said: “Normally I’m bordering on the bottom of being a cruiser-weight but I’ve come through that up to heavyweight for this fight.
“This fight means everything – this is 51 years of boxing’s grand finale and I have to come out on top, I’ve got to win this.
“I’m not worried at all though – he’s 54, six years younger than me, I’ll be 61 in August but I feel great, I’ve trained hard and it will be one hell of a fight.”
For more from Steve, watch the April 26 episode of Sports Week on Notts TV at 7.30pm, or see our catch up service.
