Ward to learn championship fate on Friday

DEFENDING Irish senior light-heavyweight champion, Moate's Joe Ward, will learn his fate for this year's defence of his crown when the draw for the National Elite Championships is staged this coming Friday (1.30pm). Ward, 18, won last year's national title in dramatic style when defeating former Olympic Games silver medallist Kenny Egan in the final. Both Ward and Egan are entered into the draw for this year's competition, and the likelihood is that they will face each other in a rematch in the final in early February. At present, the competitions are scheduled to begin this Friday at the National Stadium in Dublin, and to run over the next three weekends. Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) spokesperson, Bernard O'Neill, confirmed the number of entries into Friday's light-heavyweight draw is likely to be "in double figures", and said both Ward and Egan are strong contenders to progress deep into the competition. Mr O'Neill said the maximum amount of bouts Ward will contest to reach the final is two, but depending on numbers present at Friday's weigh-in and draw, that could be reduced to just one bout. The same applies to Neilstown's Kenny Egan. Mr O'Neill said the draw will be carried out on a seeded system, thus keeping Ward and Egan apart until the final if they both get that far. However, there is some talk that Davey Joe Joyce, of Athy Boxing Club, who has made it known he will compete, could also be a strong contender for the title. Ward must win this year's national title to have any chance of reaching this summer's Olympic Games in London. If he proves successful in defending his national title, he will then go forward to the final European Olympic Games qualifier in Trabzon, Turkey, to be held between April 13 and 22. Ward has always stated his main ambition is to reach the Olympics, but he will have to reach top-form to see off the considerable challenge of Egan at this year's nationals. Meanwhile, Ward was among a host of top Irish boxing talent honoured at the IABA Annual Awards at the Green Isle Hotel in Dublin last Saturday. Ward's achievement in winning gold at last year's European Senior Championships was awarded in the shape of an Elite Achievement Award, along with fellow European champion Ray Moylette. Katie Taylor scooped the Boxer of the Year award, having won her fifth European title in-a-row in Holland. Others to be honoured at last weekend's event included John Joe Nevin, who became the first Irish male boxer to win two medals at AIBA World Championships level, and Darren O'Neill and Michael Conlan, who have already qualified for the Olympics.