Joe Ward turns on style to carry Irish hopes in Hamburg

Joe Ward is the only Irish boxer left standing at the AIBA World Elite Championships after cruising to within one win of a third successive medal at this level in Hamburg, Germany.

The three-time European champion outclassed Georgia’s Iago Kizira yesterday, but Tipperary super-heavy Dean Gardiner and Antrim’s Rio 2016 flyweight Brendan Irvine bowed out following last 16 defeats to Columbia and Korea.

Ward, a silver and bronze medal winner at the 2015 and 2013 Worlds, produced a masterclass versus Kizira, the Rio Olympian winning 30-27,30-27,30-27,30-27, 30-24, with the durable Georgian rarely getting close to the Irish champion.