Final decision on Ward's Olympic fate due in early June

A top Irish amateur boxing official has said he is "optimistic" about Joe Ward's chances of being selected for a 'wildcard' place at this summer's Olympic Games in London. After suffering a hugely controversial defeat against a Turkish opponent at last month's qualifying tournament in Turkey, the talented 18-year-old from Moate is expected to find out next month whether or not he will be thrown an Olympic lifeline. There is one 'wildcard' - or Tripartite - place available for a European boxer in Ward's 81kg (light heavyweight) division. This place is due to go to a boxer from a country which has had six or fewer athletes competing at the previous two Olympic Games, but it's not clear whether or not there would be a suitable boxer in that category in Europe. If there is not, it's thought that the place would then be awarded to the highest-ranked European boxer who has not qualified. And that would be Joe Ward. When contacted by the Westmeath Independent this week, Sébastien Gillot, a spokesperson for the International Amateur Boxing Association, said a decision on the 'wildcard' place would be reached in early June. "The discussions (on the last qualifying place) will not take place before the end of all qualifying events, including the women's world championships, finishing on 20 May. Therefore I would not expect any decision before beginning of June," he said. Dominic O'Rourke, director of boxing with the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA), said it had written to AIBA President, Taiwan's Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, to make the case for Ward being given the remaining place at light heavyweight. "We still believe that there is a possibility he could go to London," said Mr O'Rourke. "He's the number three-ranked boxer in the world and the IABA has made a case for him to get the remaining place. We'll have to wait and see what happens, but we're optimistic," he said.