By Elliot Foster

Tommy Ward can move closer to a world title shot next month when he makes his American debut.

The North East super-bantamweight was last in action back in October in Newcastle.

Ward (25-0, 4 KOs) took out Tom Tran in just 47 seconds at the Metro Radio Arena, as part of a card that was screened exclusively live on Sky Sports.

And now the 24-year-old, who is rated number four with the WBO, will head Stateside on February 15.

He will take on Texas' Jesse Angel Hernandez in Kansas after securing three victories in 2018, including the aforementioned win over Tran, a stoppage of Lesther Cantillano and picking up a vacant IBF European strap in between with a dominant display over Spain's Alvaro Rodriguez.

Hernandez, a 28-year-old from Fort Worth, rated at 15 by the WBO, has a very promising record, winning 12 of his 13 bouts, with seven via stoppage, including a fifth-round KO of previously unbeaten Russian Vladimir Tikhonov in 2017.

The fight, an official eliminator, will be over the 10-round distance and the hope will be that the winner gets pushed even closer towards a showdown with the world champion Emanuel Navarrete, who dethroned Isaac Dogboe over 12 rounds at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden last month.