VIDEO: Joe Ward books his ticket to Rio

Joe Ward could miss out on becoming the first Irishman to claim senior World Championship gold if Michael Conlan beats him to it tomorrow night, but it is doubtful that he would begrudge his team-mate and captain such success.

While Ward will surely be out to claim the light-heavyweight title in Doha on Thursday night, the 21-year-old has achieved his mission at the Worlds, securing qualification for the Rio Olympics after he last night claimed a 3-0 unanimous decision win (29-28 on all three cards) over Ishod Rasulov of Uzbekistan, the world No 15 and Asian Games silver medallist.

Ward, the world No 5, and No 4 seed at this tournament, hailed it as the “most important victory” of his career. He now progresses to a final clash on Thursday night with Julio la Cruz, Cuba’s two-time world champion who defeated Ward in the 2013 world semi-final.