Ward Crowned
World Champion
By Bernard O'Neill
May 31, 2009
(MAY 31) The Irish squad will arrive home
from Armenia via Dublin Airport today at approximately 1.30pm. All media
are invited to attend tomorrows homecoming. Earlier yesterdayJoe
Ward became the third Irish amateur boxer in the last eight months -
following in the footsteps of Katie Taylor and Ray Moylette -to claim a
World title after he became AIBA World light middleweight (70Kg) junior
champion following a stunning third round stoppage of home favourite
Hayk Khachatryan of Armenia at the Sports Complex in Yerevan, Armenia.
Ward, who boxes out of the Moate club in Westmeath where he is coached
by Seamus Dorrington, was 16-1 up when the fight was stopped with just
six seconds remaining to the final bell.
The reigning Irish champion took the first round 2-0, was 4-0 up at the
end of the second and then added 12 points to his total in the third and
final round before Khachatryan was taken into protective custody by the
referee 1:54 into the frame after taking his second standing count.
Irish coach Jim Moore, who was working Ward's corner along with Tony
Davitt today, described the Westmeath's teenagers performance as
outstanding.
He said: "If it was up to me Joe would get the boxer of the tournament
award as he's been absolutely brilliant out here all week. He was very
patient in the first and second rounds today but when he moved up
through the gears in the third he just ran away with it, he was
outstanding."
Today's win ensures that the IABA now have three reigning World
champions in their ranks; Ward, Women's World lightweight champ Katie
Taylor, and World Youth lightweight champion Ray Moylette.
Today's triumph was Ward's third inside the distance victory in Yerevan
this week.
In his four bouts he scored 40 points and conceded just six.
Wards path to glory
May 26th (Last 16)
70Kg: Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Denis Rybak (Kazakhstan) RSC3
(Ward 7-1 up when bout was stopped)
May 27th (Quarter Finals)
70Kg: Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Rustam Musaadzhev (Russia) RSC2
(Ward 5-2 up when bout was stopped)
May 29th (Semi Finals)
70Kg: Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Ravshanjan Abdunazarov (Uzbekistan) 12-2
May 30th (Final)
70Kg: Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Hayk Khachatryan (Armenia) RSC3 (1.54)
(Ward 16-1 up when bout was stopped)
52Kg: Roy O'Carroll (Ireland) lost to Carrazana Ramirez (Cuba) 8-16
May 26th (Last 16)
54Kg: Ryan McKeown (Ireland) lost to Belzhan Amantayev (Kazakhstan) 9-12
57Kg: Christy Joyce (Ireland) lost to Dmitry Kulakov (Russia) 6-17
63Kg: Chris Mullally (Ireland) beat Ihsan Erdogan (Turkey) 7-2
66Kg: Michael Reilly (Ireland) beat Manuel Osorio (Puerto Rico) 5-4
70Kg: Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Denis Rybak (Kazakhstan) RSC3
May 27th (Quarter Finals)
63Kg: Chris Mullally (Ireland) lost to Magomed Abdulamagomedov (Russia)
1-6
66Kg: Michael Reilly (Ireland) lost to Dan Ahorono (Israel) 3-8
70Kg: Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Rustam Musaadzhev (Russia) RSC2
May 29th (Semi Finals)
70Kg: Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Ravshanjan Abdunazarov (Uzbekistan) 12-2
May 30th (Final)
70Kg: Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Hayk Khachatryan (Armenia) RSC3
(Ward 16-1 up when bout was stopped)
RSC = Ref Stops Contest.
Irish squad:
52Kg: Roy O'Carroll (Glen)
54Kg: Ryan McKeown (Sacred Heart Newry)
57Kg: Christy Joyce (St Michael's Athy)
63Kg: Chris Mulally (Ryston)
66Kg: Michael Reilly (Drimnagh)
70Kg: Joe Ward (Moate)
Team Manager: Paddy Culligan Coaches: Jim Moore & Tony Davitt Physio:
Conor McCarthy
