Ward in line for Ivanov rematch at Elite Champs
Ward outclassed Poland’s Matuesz Tryc on a unanimous decision yesterday and will face Hungary’s Norbert Harsca in the last-16 tomorrow.
Ivanov, who 19-year-old Ward beat in the 2011 European final in Turkey, also won in Almaty yesterday.
Ward, who boxes out of the Moate BC in Westmeath, crashed out of the 2013 Europeans after twisting his left knee against Tryc in Belarus this summer.
But there was no repeat of that freak injury yesterday, as the 2009 and 2010 World Junior and Youth champion romped to victory.
The final scores read 30-27, 30-26, 30-27 to the Irish Elite champion who rarely moved out of second gear against the Pole.
“It was great to get that fight, I really needed it,” said Ward. “I feel good, I had a good training camp, but I didn’t have many spars because of my hand (injury). The hand feels 100% now, thank God.
“I was a bit impatient because we’re sitting around for a week. It was good to get the first one over. Everything went well.”
Meantime, Sean McComb eased into the last-16 after hammering out a unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27) over Gildas Bangana of the Central African Republic.
The Belfast lightweight was in total control from the opening to closing bell and will now face Elvin Isayev of Azerbaijan tomorrow. He said: “I got the game plan right. I stuck to it all three rounds and just tried to keep in the comfort zone. I don’t want to show my next opponent too much. I wasn’t trying to knock him out or anything, I was sticking to what I was told to do. It worked for the three rounds, so that’s good enough for me.”
London 2012 bronze medalist Michael Conlan, current European champion Jason Quigley and Tommy McCarthy will be in action today in Almaty.
Conlan is in against Brian Gonzalez at 11am followed by Quigley who will fight Scotland’s Aston Brown at 11.30am (Irish time).
McCarthy meets Emir Ahmatovic of Germany at approximately 3.45pm this afternoon.
Paddy Barnes, Ward and McComb will be between the ropes tomorrow in Almaty. The tournament is now at the last-16 stage.
* AIBA World Elite Championships Almaty Kazakhstan: (Last 32): 60kg: S McComb (Ireland) beat G Bangana (Central African Republic) 3-0; 81kg: J Ward (Ireland) beat M Tryc (Poland) 3-0.
Today: (Last 16): 56kg: M Conlan (Ireland) v B Gonzalez (Mexico); 75kg: J Quigley (Ireland) A Brown (Scotland); 91kg: T McCarthy (Ireland) v E Ahmatovic (Germany).
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