CEFN Fforest fighter Robbie Turley has landed another British super-bantamweight title eliminator – against Tommy Ward in his native North East in March.

Turley will take on West Rainton boxer Ward, younger brother of former Commonwealth bantamweight champion Martin Ward, at Houghton-le-Spring in Tyne and Wear on March 5.

It is a rare bit of good news for Turley who has consistently complained that potential opponents have been ducking him.

After a routine four-round win over Jean Noel Alvarez in Newport in October, Turley told the Argus: “Everything is frustrating for me at the moment as far as boxing is concerned.

“I can’t get anyone in Britain to fight me.

“I won my British eliminator but I didn’t get my shot – Martin Ward came straight up from bantamweight.

“He got a shot before me even though I’m the only person that won a British eliminator.

“I had a phone call asking if I’d fight Gamal Yafai and I said yes but then he came back saying he didn’t want to fight me either.

“He ended up fighting a final Commonwealth eliminator when I could have had a shot at that.

“They won’t fight me because my style is awkward,” added the 29-year-old, who trains at St Joseph’s gym in Newport.

“When I’m at the top of my game I’m an excellent fighter and I can make good fighters look quite poor.

“I’m a switch-hitter; I’m awkward with low hands coming from all angles.

“I wouldn’t like to fight me if I’m truthful – I’m an awkward b******.”

Turley revealed that he was struggling to make a living out of boxing.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he said.

“I’m trying to make money out of the game but I’m not making anything at the moment.

“I’ve been going for a long time and I want to see how far I can go but I’m not getting the shots.”

The Ward fight came about after the elusive Yafai pulled out of an English title bout against the County Durham man.

“We’re over the moon to have got this fight,” said Ward’s trainer Neil Fannan, talking to the Sunderland Echo.

“We had a bit of negotiating to do with Turley’s manager, Chris Sanigar, but it’s all agreed.

“It’s a brilliant situation for Tommy – beat Turley and he’ll made mandatory challenger for the British title.”

But Fannan says there is tremendous respect for Welsh and Celtic super-bantamweight champ Turley.

“Robbie is a decent boxer, but he’s also a very tough man,” he said. “He went the full 10 rounds with Carl Frampton for the Celtic super-bantamweight title.

“Frampton is now one of our best world champions but he could not shift Turley.”