Ward powers into final

JOE WARD (Moate) got his defence of his light heavyweight title off to a flying start at the Elite National finals at the National Stadium last night and immediately threw down the gauntlet to Kenny Egan, who he beat to claim it last year.

The 18-year-old European champion defeated fellow Westmeath man, Davy Joe Joyce (Ballinacargy) 17-4 in a semi-final that one felt he could have ended at any time but he held back on the big shots.

“I was very happy with the win,” he said. “I have not boxed since the world championships in Baku so I’m just a bit ring-rusty. I still have the big shots. You don’t lose that. You just have to develop more to get bigger and stronger.