Ward remains focused on Olympic dream after Euro gold

NEWLY crowned European senior boxing champion Joe Ward remains in the dark this week about his dream Olympic bid. Moate native Ward (just 17) was in superb form as he won four fights along the way to becoming European champion in Turkey last week. Ward saw off opposition from Estonia, Italy and Hungary, before defeating Russian Nikita Ivanov in last Friday's light-heavyweight decider in Ankara, Turkey. But despite his latest triumph - which comes on the back of beating former Olympic silver medalist Kenny Egan in last February's National Senior Championship final - there remains a lack of clarity about Ward representing Ireland at September's World Championships (a tournament which acts as the main Olympic Games qualifier). The eight quarter-finalists at the World Championships automatically qualify for the Olympics, and in recent months it was believed that the ten Irish champions from the recent National Seniors would progress to compete at the Worlds in Baku, Azerbaijan. However, before the Irish squad departed for Turkey last week, they were informed by the IABA that they'd have to compete in a box-off competition, which will be unseeded and run on a straight knockout basis, at the National Stadium in August, to ensure their place on the national team that will go to the World Championships in September.Only one boxer for each weight division can represent Ireland at the World Championships, so defeat at any point in the box-offs would spell the end of Ward's Olympic dream. The announcement has been met with considerable criticism within Irish boxing circles. Sources close to the IABA this week told the Westmeath Independent that serious pressure is already mounting on the IABA to reconsider this system, and to send the reigning national champions to the World Championships. The confusion surrounding the World Championships failed to dampen Joe Ward's spirits upon his return to his native Farnagh outside Moate on Sunday evening, but he admitted to being "frustrated and annoyed" about the lack of clarity on the issue. Ward and Westport's Ray Moylette were Ireland's medal winners in Turkey, with Moylette clinching the title in the lightweight division, and in the process they helped Ireland finish second only to the mighty Russia in the official points table. Speaking about his success in Turkey, Ward said: "Things are just getting better and better for me at the moment, and all the hard work and dedication is paying off. I felt I boxed quite well in Turkey, but I still had a bit more in the tank. I faced some really good boxers over there but I felt relaxed going into the final because I already had a medal in my pocket. My aim going over there was to win a medal, so it's brilliant to come home with gold. I just wanted to perform well and show everyone how good I am, and I think I succeeded in doing that." As reigning Irish and European senior champion, it would seem almost ludicrous for Ward not to represent his country at the World Championships. And a highly-placed boxing source told the Westmeath Independent this week that it wouldn't surprise him if the IABA decide to send Ward to the World Championships, regardless of the outcome of the controversial box-offs. It's believed that increasing media coverage of Ward's situation - and that of other national champions too - could force the IABA into a rethink about the situation. However, any further developments on the situation seems unlikely until the association's High Performance Programme boxers return from a well-deserved two-week break. Ward said the situation is "playing on his mind", but that he will fight whoever he has to in order to reach the Olympics. "It's always been my number one ambition, my dream, to box at the Olympics, and I think I deserve the chance to represent Ireland at the World Championships. I don't know what else I have to do, I'm the Irish and European champion now. I don't think it's fair if the IABA decide to use the box-offs as a qualifier for the Worlds, but if I'm forced to do it, then that's what I'll do. But I should be able to focus my mind on the World Championships now. Instead, I'm wondering about box-offs and the like. It's not ideal," the Moate youngster said. An official spokesperson for the IABA this week confirmed the intention of the association is to use the August box-offs as a qualifier for the World Championships. After his success in Turley, Ward plans a two-week break before returning to intensive training. The 17-year-old produced an excellent display of counter punching to defeat Ivanov in the light-heavyweight final last Friday. The Westmeath man led 7-3 after the first round, and extended his lead to 15-6 following a second round in which his opponent was penalised for a low blow. The Russian shaded the third and final round, but Ward had done enough to secure a memorable eight-point victory. Earlier this year, he defeated the 2008 Olympic silver-medal winner Kenny Egan to become Irish champion. Friday's victory, Ward's first major international championship win as a senior boxer, is the pinnacle of his superb career to date. By winning in Turkey, Ward also joined an elite collection of Irish boxers to have won gold medals at the European Championships.