It’s a familiar end to the World Championships for Ward.

Joe Ward is the only Irish boxer left standing at the AIBA World Elite Championships after cruising to within one win of a third successive medal at this level in Hamburg, Germany.

Performances in the ring will ultimately dictate whether Bernard Dunne’s remit as Irish amateur boxing’s high performance director is a success but the former world champion has already recorded a pair of notable successes outside the ropes.

The Westmeath light-heavyweight has been a constant target for the professional game's movers and shakers.

Newly crowned European Elite champion Joe Ward is being targeted by pro promoters in the countdown to the World Elite Championships which begin in Hamburg, Germany, on August 25.

Ward is through to his third European Boxing Championships final in seven years, where he will bid for a third gold medal.

Joe Ward last night hailed his first Irish title win since 2014 as the start of his journey back to international success.

Joe Ward wants to be the “driving force” behind a post-Rio Irish boxing revival following an exodus of star names to the professional ranks.

Ward crashed out to continue a week to forget for Irish boxing.

Light-heavyweight Joe Ward found out about boxing injustice the hard way when he missed out on the London games but his focus now in only on Rio.

Joe Ward failed in his bid to land light-heavyweight gold at the AIBA World Boxing Championships after Cuba’s Julio Cesar la Cruz defeated the Irishman in Doha.

Ireland's Joe Ward has secured his place at next year's Olympics after years of trying.

Ireland have secured a record medal haul at the AIBA World Champinships.

European Games medallist Sean McComb was left disappointed after losing a split decision.

After two intense European Elite tournaments this summer, the final count for Irish male boxing is three gold, one silver and two bronze medals and seven places secured for October’s World Elite Men’s Championships and Olympic qualifiers in Doha, Qatar.

Olympic and World Elite bronze medallist Michael Conlan and Joe Ward booked tickets into their second European Elite finals in four years in Samokov, Bulgaria yesterday.

It has been a golden day for Ireland at the European Elite Boxing Championships in Bulgaria.

A dominant performance from Joe Ward has seen the Westmeath man through to the gold medal match.

Rugby, GAA, golf, medal chances in boxing and the first Super Sunday of the Premier League season - this weekend has it all.

London 2012 bronze medallist Michael Conlan, Dean Walsh and Joe Ward guaranteed Ireland at least a hat-trick of bronze medals at the European Elite Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria yesterday.

It has been good day for the Irish Elite squad in Bulgaria, where three of the four fighters won their quarter-finals to secure medals at the European Championships.

Ward and Adam Nolan have joined Michael Conlan and Dean Walsh in the last-eight of their divisions.