Irish light-heavyweight boxer Joe Ward will fight undefeated contender Artjom Kasparian at Dublin's 3Arena on Saturday live on Sky Sports. Ward entered professional boxing with high expectations following a standout amateur career, but he has worked to overcome repeated misfortunes throughout his time in the sport.
In 2011, Ward became the youngest Irish boxer to win a gold medal at the senior European Championships. High expectations built around his potential at the 2012 London Olympics, but he lost a contentious decision to a host nation boxer at the qualification event in Trabzon, Turkey.
"My main goal was always to get to the Olympics in London," Ward told Sky Sports. "Trabzon just wasn't to be, as you know. It felt like we won the fight and we just didn't get the decision."
Amateur Career Setbacks
Ward regrouped and targeted the 2016 Rio Olympics. At the Rio Games, he was eliminated in the opening stage after the referee gave him two points deductions in a three-round amateur bout.
"It was one of these things that was out of my control," Ward said. "I picked up two public warnings, where I was still winning on the scorecards but because of the warnings I was beaten on a 3-2 split decision. Definitely at that time I was very disheartened."
"I was kind of saying to myself: 'Am I ever going to get that little bit of luck?' But again after a few weeks you just regroup and go back to the gym," Ward added.
Despite missing out on an Olympic medal, Ward earned three European gold medals and several World Championship medals during his amateur career. "It's not an accident to be consistently winning," he said. "You have to have something a little bit special about you. I believe so."
Reflecting on how an Olympic medal could have altered his career path, Ward said: "I kind of always focus on the future. Sometimes you can overthink about what's gone. It's not going to change anything. I've always loved boxing and loved being around it and it's something that gave huge opportunities in my life, to travel the world and meet so many great people. For me I just don't think there's anything else. It's something that I love doing."
Injury at Madison Square Garden
Ward turned professional in 2019 and scheduled his debut at Madison Square Garden in New York. However, disaster struck during the second round when his knee dislocated and collapsed beneath him.
"You kind of question it sometimes," Ward said. "It could have happened somewhere else but I believe everything happens for a reason. It was out of my control. It was one of these freak accidents that happen. Obviously it was devastating when it happened, I was very upset."
Following surgery, doctors confirmed there were no further structural issues with his knee. "Mentally you don't want to leave the game, you always want to be involved," Ward said. "Sometimes injuries can stop that from happening, I was hoping that that my knee wasn't going to stop me continuing chasing my goals and my career. It was good that everything worked out well with the operation and they said there were no more issues."
Bout Against Artjom Kasparian in Dublin
After his debut injury, opportunities slowed, but Ward remained patient and continued his career. On Saturday, he faces hard-punching undefeated contender Artjom Kasparian in Dublin.
"There's no point getting in there to take easy fights," Ward said. "It's an opportunity to step up and fight decent fighters and move on and challenge myself to see how far I can really take it. I really believe in myself, I can go all the way. That's the key, just getting the opportunity, getting the right fights at the right time. It felt like that never happened over the last couple of years."
Ward believes his past setbacks will give him a mental advantage in future fights. "Things will change, you will get a bit of luck along the way," Ward said. "That makes you a stronger person. I feel like that will give you the extra edge then when something happens in a fight or a moment where you just need something different. That will always flash back - look, I've been through it all and now I can fight through this."
"The most important thing as a fighter is to still believe in yourself, still stay focused, still keep in the gym, keep learning," Ward said. "Doors will open for you, opportunities will come. I've had a lot of ups and downs in my career but looking back I'm grateful for opportunities and grateful for what I've achieved. I just stuck at it and here I am still going strong, still believe in myself, believe I'm probably the best I've ever been physically, mentally. So I'm excited."
