Joe Ward: "I'm ready to fight the world's best, any time, anywhere"
Joe Ward was due to step into the ring in Galway this weekend against the toughest opponent of his professional career to date, Londoner Lerrone Richards.
However, the Moate man has responded to the disappointment of that fight's cancellation by offering to take on any of the leading light heavyweights in the world "any time, anywhere".
The Ward-Richards bout had been announced for a bill that was due to be headlined by Galway native Kieran Molloy in the Pearse Stadium GAA grounds this Saturday (June 28).
However, the promoter of the event, GBM Sports, announced on June 9 that, "due to circumstances beyond our control" the event would not be going ahead in Galway.
The promoter then announced another boxing show for Hull, England, on the same date, but Ward and Molloy are not part of the show in England.
Speaking to the Westmeath Independent, Ward said there were attempts made to have him included on the English bill, but they didn't bear fruit.
"I was informed that Lerrone Richards had pulled out of the fight against me on June 28, and GBM was trying to find me a different opponent and keep me on the card. Unfortunately that didn't happen, so I won't be fighting on Saturday," said the local 31-year-old.
"This is a small setback, as I was ready to show that I'm one of the best light heavyweights in the world."
He added that he has been in training for the last 10 weeks and is keen to face the world's best in the light heavyweight division as soon as possible.
"I am ready to take on any of the top lads at 175lbs, any time, anywhere. I'm only a phone call away," he stated.
Ward had a glittering career as an amateur boxer, winning three European championship gold medals, two world championship silver medals, and a world bronze.
Since turning professional he has amassed a record of 12 wins and one defeat (8 KOs). His only defeat as a professional was the result of a freak knee injury sustained in his pro debut in New York in October 2019.