Ward prepares for 'biggest nine minutes' of career to date

JOE Ward is ready for "the biggest nine minutes" of his boxing career, as he readies himself for Friday night's massive Irish Elite Championships light-heavyweight final. The rematch of last year's Elite final, which Ward won to much acclaim, has boxing fans all over the country awaiting Friday's bout with much anticipation. It can be seen on RTÉ 2's coverage of the national championships finals on Friday from 9pm. And Moate Boxing Club fighter Ward believes he's ready to beat Egan again, and move one notable step closer to fulfilling his Olympic Games dream. Speaking to the Westmeath Independent, Ward said: "This is going to be the biggest nine minutes of my boxing career. If I want to continue my bid for the Olympics, I simply have to win on Friday, and the stakes are high. I'm really looking forward to getting in the ring and taking on Kenny Egan. Obviously, I beat Egan in last year's final, but that will count for very little on Friday." "I just want to perform to the best of my ability, and I know I have the right tools to beat Egan. I just have to make sure I put all those tools in my tool-box on Friday." Ward needs to defeat Egan in Friday's national decider to then go forward to a final European qualifying competition for the Olympics in Turkey. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, and I intend to take it," said a determined Ward. The Moate boxer, 18, was also keen to focus on his own strengths when asked if Neilstown's Kenny Egan - an Olympic Games silver medallist in 2008 - is in better shape this year, as opposed to the 2011 version. "I don't know about that. He stopped a couple of guys in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, but without disrespecting those lads, they're nowhere near the level I compete at. The way I see it is that I'm a year older, I'm more mature, and in better physical shape than I was last year. I'm enjoying my boxing at the moment, and since last year's final have picked up far greater experience of boxing in big matches. I honestly think it's me that's improved in the last year," said Ward. Ward's place in the final was secured with a resounding 17-4 victory over Ballynacargy's David Joe Joyce (a native of Mullingar) at the National Stadium in Dublin last Friday. The following day, Egan forced his semi-final opponent, Eamon Walsh, to retire in round two of their last four clash. Speaking to the IABA website, Egan said: "I'm in a better place (than last year) and that's all I'm going to say. It shows in the ring and it shows in my training and everything else. I'm happy and once I'm happy it gets me out of bed when I'm fighting for titles. I'm sure the whole country is looking forward to the fight. Everyone's talking about it. It's about going out and performing. I'm boxing well again and I'm happy." Meanwhile, two other Moate Boxing Club members, David Joyce (Joe Ward's uncle) and Kenneth Okungbowa both bowed out of the Elite Championships last weekend. Joyce was defeated 20-12 by Drimnagh's Sean Turner in the super-heavyweight semi-finals, while Okungbowa - an Athlone resident - was beaten 17-8 by Clonmel's Con Sheehan at the same stage in the super-heavyweight category. *Coverage of the finals of the 2012 Elite National Senior Boxing Championships from the National Stadium in Dublin will be screened on RTÉ 2 on Friday night from 9pm.