Decision imminent on Ward's Olympic fate

At the time of going to press, the waiting game was finally coming to an end for Moate boxer Joe Ward. The hugely talented 18-year-old was expecting to be told this week whether or not he will be competing in this summer's Olympic Games. There was an outside chance of Ward being selected for the Olympics courtesy of the so-called 'wildcard' place which has yet to be filled in his 81kg weight category. A Tripartite Commission, which allocates the place, reportedly held meetings and conference calls to discuss it this week. "I'm still waiting," Ward told the Westmeath Independent yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon. "It would be nice to get it, and I would grab the chance to go with both hands, but it's not something that I'm expecting. "If it comes, it will be a bonus. That's the way I'm looking at it," he said. In the final Olympic qualifying tournament in April, Ward lost a highly controversial decision to a Turkish opponent in Turkey. Former world champion Barry McGuigan said Ward was "undoubtedly robbed" in that bout. Don Stewart, chief executive of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, said yesterday that he was still hoping the Moate boxer would be chosen for the 'wildcard' place. "We're hopeful. What other way can we be?" he said. "We hope that the right decision will be made." Ward is currently ranked fifth in the world at 81kg, and his prodigious ability was underlined at a tournament in France last Thursday where he beat a Moroccan opponent who has qualified for the Olympics, Ahmed Barki, on a score of 13-1. He also defeated a German, Kevin Kunzel, on a score of 12-5 last Friday. "I boxed well in France but that counts for nothing," said Ward yesterday. "I lost in two Olympic qualifiers, even though one was a controversial decision." Ward's loss in Turkey was discussed by McGuigan after he, Sonia O'Sullivan, Eamonn Coghlan and Mark Rohan were conferred with Distinguished Fellowships in Athlone IT last Friday. "I'm devastated for Joe Ward," said the 'Clones Cyclone'. "He didn't box great against the Turkish opponent but he won the fight by a mile and it's disgraceful that he didn't get the decision." While he hoped he was wrong, McGuigan didn't expect Ward to be given the 'wildcard' place because it is normally awarded to a boxer from a country which doesn't have a tradition of competing in Olympic boxing. "I hope that Joe will hang on in the amateur ranks because the amateur game is where he should be. He's too young to turn professional. By the time he gets to (the next Olympics in) Rio, in 2016, he'll be 22 years old. He'll be in his prime and he'll be unbeatable. "He will win tournament after tournament in the meantime, he will develop as an individual and he'll get an education. He's an amazing talent," said McGuigan.