Ward retains title and eyes senior glory

JOE WARD, the 2009 and 2010 AIBA World Junior and World Youth champion, claimed his second Irish Open Youth Championships title in a row at the National Stadium in Dublin on Saturday night.

The 17-year-old, who boxes out of Westmeath’s Moate BC, had his hand raised in victory after John Joe McDonagh’s corner retired their man in the second round of the light-heavyweight final, with Ward 11-1 up.

The teenager has confirmed he will enter the Elite Senior Championships, beginning at the National Stadium on Friday, a move that could see him meet Ken Egan, who will be aiming for an unprecedented 11th title on the trot.