Ward shows Egan no mercy

Joe Ward retained his title and may have ended the career of one of Irish boxing’s legends when he out-pointed Kenny Egan by a massive score of 29-10 to retain his light heavyweight title at the Elite Senior Championships fought before a full house at the National Stadium last night.

The score underlined the manner in which the 18-year-old Westmeath man dominated the contest. He forced Egan to take a standing count in the second round and, from then on, was totally in control.

Egan had tried to set the pace from behind his right jab but Ward pinned him on the ropes and pounded him, swinging a looping left hook that would soon become a feature of the fight, rocking Egan and forcing him to come forward for scraps. He won the first round 9-5 and, always trying to set the Olympic silver medallist up for the big one, eventually nailed him in the second and referee Ferdie Whelan was left with no option but to administer a standing count.