Joe Ward to headline Donegal boxing event in his first Irish fight as a pro

Joe Ward will be the stepping into the ring for the main event of a professional boxing show in Donegal next month.

The Moate man is to face big-punching Ghanaian Prince Oko Nartey at the 'Rumble in the Hills' show, which is taking place at the Aura Leisure Complex in Letterkenny on Saturday, November 18.

The eight-round bout will be Ward's eleventh as his professional, and it will be his first to take place in Ireland.

He was previously scheduled to box on the undercard of a show in Dublin in September, but was disappointed when that event fell through.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent today, the 29-year-old said he was excited about appearing on "a great night of boxing" in Donegal.

"I've been working hard so I'm really forward to getting back in the ring and having my first pro fight in Ireland, especially after the disappointment of the last fight not going ahead," he said.

Prince Oko Nartey, Ward's opponent, is also aged 29 and has a record of 11 wins and 1 defeat, with 10 of his wins coming inside the distance. Eleven of his twelve fights so far have taken place in Ghana.

"He is coming here with a good record and he has a lot of power, so it's going to be a test for me," said Ward.

"I'm looking forward to putting on a good performance that will hopefully help me to push on and compete against the top boxers in the world, which is where I feel I can be.

"I believe the time is right for me to push on in my career and it's all about getting those opportunities."

Ward, who is managed by Adam Glenn of New York's Times Square Boxing, and promoted by US promoter Lou DiBella, is now getting ready to travel to New York for a five-week training camp ahead of the bout in Donegal.

As an amateur, he was a three-time European gold medalist. He also won two silver and one bronze at the amateur World Championships and represented Ireland at the 2016 Olympic Games. His pro record stands at 9 wins and 1 defeat, with 5 KOs.

The 'Rumble In The Hills' event is the being hosted by Elite Sheer and features a series of bouts in the 2,000-capacity Aura Leisure Complex.

Rising Belfast prospect James McGivern (7-0, 2KOs) will appear in the co-headline bout. 'The Natural', a Commonwealth Youth Games gold and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, will challenge for the Celtic lightweight title.

"The card is stacked with unbelievable talent," said Jason Quigley of Sheer Sports.

"It is an honour for us to have Joe Ward as one of the main fights. I boxed with Joe and competed with him for years as an amateur.

"If you look at his resume, he was one of the most successful in the amateur scene. Joe is working with Lou DiBella in New York and we're working together on bringing Joe home for this fight," he said.

The event will be the first time in 13 years that a professional show will be held in Donegal.

World middleweight title challenger Quigley believes it can be the dawn of a new era for the sport in his native county.

"The Aura is a fabulous venue and it's brilliant for us to be looking forward to bringing people in and putting Donegal on the map," he said.

"I'm delighted to have the opportunity to put professional boxing back in Donegal again. I would love it if this could start something new, something fresh, something for boxing in the county," he said.