Thomas Patrick Ward Outclasses Alexis Kabore in Decision Win
At the Newcastle Arena in Newcastle, England Thomas Patrick Ward (32-0-1, 4 KOs) took on Alexis Kabore (29-6, 8 KOs) in a ten-round featherweight contest. Ward has been steadily progressing up the ranks. His breakthrough performance was a technical decision win over former featherweight world title challenger James “Jazza” Dickens in May 2017. The 27-year-old from Durham, England has gotten better with each fight. Ranked fourth by the WBA at 126 pounds, he’s closing in on a world title shot.
He faced a Kabore who was a willing warrior. But the 38-year-old from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso came into this one having lost three of his previous five bouts.
EASY WORK
Ward is very much a slickster with good boxing skills. He used his jab, foot movement, and combinations to set the tone in the early rounds. Kabore attempted to apply pressure, but the Ward was terrific at stepping around and countering his plodding foe.
The disparity of skill became increasingly evident during the middle and later rounds. Kabore just couldn’t cut off the ring and land with anything significant. For his part, Ward continued to peck away with the jab and combinations to the head and body. Inside and out, the Brit was having it all his way.
ONE GLARING WEAKNESS
While no one questions the boxing ability of Ward, a criticism from UK observers is his lack of punching power. The middle rounds were a continuation of giving Kabore a boxing lesson. The problem was that it would have been nice to see him step in and sit down more on his punches. You got the sense that he was coasting and playing it safe. It got to a point where the fight had the look of a midweek sparring session.
In the end, Ward won this one with ease, as referee Ron Kearney scored the fight his way 100-90. Though he’s ranked highly by the WBA at 126, he has his sights on a fight with WBO featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete.
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By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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