With his next fight scheduled for November 14, there is absolutely zero celebration this year – but he wouldn't have it any other way.

On another year, he might have been back home in Gateshead, 125 miles up the road from his Yorkshire training base, celebrating with friends and family.

But as he brings up his quarter-century, it is a double training session then back to the room he rents in a house in the market town. “You can get a birthday cake flavor protein bar these days,” he says. “I’ll stick a candle in one of them. That’s about as good as it gets.”

Toward’s birthday falls 15 days before his anticipated rematch with undefeated Jak Corrie, which lands on the undercard of the MF Pro event headlined by Viddal Riley vs. Seydi Coupe at Wembley Arena, live on DAZN.

The initial clash, at York Hall on May 29, between southpaw Toward (8-1-1, 6 KOs) and orthodox Corrie (9-0-1, 6 KOs) looked evenly-matched on paper and, after 10 hard-fought but awkward rounds, the judges could not separate them.

“A draw is a weird one to take,” says Toward, who sunk to his haunches when the decision was announced. “It’s not a loss but it felt like one.

“When I assessed it afterwards, once the emotion had died down, I thought this might be the best thing that ever happened. Now there is interest in the rematch and a lot more eyes on it this time. It means a bigger and better performance from me.”

Toward got straight back down to business with coach Dave Coldwell, training Monday to Friday before heading back home for the weekends. Given he boxed in April, too, it has been an extremely busy 2026.

“I’m used to it these days,” he says. “At this stage in my career it’s more of a lifestyle than individual camps. There’s not much break and even on your break you’re just waiting for the phone to ring with what’s next. For me it’s a good thing, it means I’m ready, mentally and physically. I’m raring to go.”

It means most of his time has been spent locked into the sort of lifestyle, away from distractions, he hopes will yield the best results.

“I live in a shared hose in some working-class estate down here,” he says. “Just a little spare room that I rent off someone. As long as I’ve got my iPad, a shower in the morning, a bed, a pair of boxing gloves and a gumshield I’m good.

"My birthday has been protein oats for the 100th time this camp, boxing this morning, S&C later, chicken and rice for the millionth time this camp.

“You’ve got to give this boxing game 110 per cent and that’s what I’m doing. I’m giving it everything to give myself the best chance of it paying off. When you’re from somewhere like Newcastle where there’s a lot going on it’s definitely different being here but it’s a good thing for me.”

And what of Liverpool man Corrie? With six months since their first outing, what will have changed in the rematch?

“There’s no emotion towards Corrie, mate,” Toward says. “I don’t really care enough about him that I’ve been sitting here stewing over him.

“He’s just in my way and I’m going to move on and wipe him out. Moving him out of my way, that’s progress for me and that’s all I’m focusing on right now. I’ll worry about everything else once the job is done.”

Birthdays are often a time of reflection, and the truth is, Toward has covered a lot of ground since his professional debut in December 2023. From fighting on Channel 5 under Wasserman to boxing under the MF Pro banner on DAZN, he has already bounced back from a defeat, having been stopped in the fifth of his scheduled eight-rounder against Muzamiru Kakande in March 2025.

But, on the whole, how is he finding this life he chose?

“It’s definitely different to what I thought it would be,” he replies. “It’s an entertainment business, the hurt game, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s not an easy route for any of us and I know I’ve got to sacrifice and dedicate a lot but I really do think this is my purpose. I’m just a young lad from somewhere up north, living his dream. People used to laugh at me when I said I would be a professional boxer but here I am.

“I’ve learned the game, I’m seasoned. I’m 25 years old today and I’m maturing into a man now. My time is coming.”