Ward eager to face world’s best after dominant Dublin victory

Joe Ward said he's keen to make the step up to fighting the top light heavyweights in the world, after he recorded a comfortable win against Ukraine's Dmytro Fedas in Dublin's National Stadium last Friday night.

The win on Friday was Ward's second bout of 2024, and he is planning to go on a 10-day training camp to Spain early next month in preparation for what he hopes will be another fight before Christmas.

The Moate native, who turns 31 later this month, was in total control against Fedas, winning every round before his opponent failed to come out for round seven.

Fedas had taken some heavy punches in the contest and showed determination to withstand sharp combinations from Ward which wobbled him on a couple of occasions.

There was only ever going to be one winner, and, after the Ukrainian took some more hefty shots in round six, the sensible decision was taken to call it a night.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent on Monday, Ward said he had trained hard for the bout, and he praised his opponent's bravery in remaining on his feet throughout, despite taking some powerful punches.

“He was tough. He was durable and he took a lot of shots,” said Ward. “I knew I was going to break him down, but it was just about taking my time, getting the rounds in, and being alert and focused.”

Ward's professional debut five years ago is recorded as a loss, because it ended when he suffered a freak knee injury, but since then he has won twelve fights in a row. He is now hoping he will get to “keep the momentum going,” by boxing again in 2024.

“I'm going to keep working. Hopefully I'll get the opportunity to fight again before the new year, and build momentum, because I believe 2025 will be a big year and I want big fights.”

Mentioning some of the opponents he would like to face, he name-checked British fighters Joshua Buatsi and Lyndon Arthur, and also said he'd love to face the top-ranked Newry-born and Australian-based fighter Conor Wallace.

Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev are regarded as the two best light heavyweights in the professional ranks, but Ward believes he's good enough to mix it with the very best.

“I feel I'm good enough to take these guys on and become a champion. It's just about getting the opportunity, and that's the hard thing about professional boxing. You have to wait for that call.

“But as long as I'm ready and prepared to take the opportunity when it comes, that's all that matters,” he said.

Ward won European and world medals as an amateur, and he acknowledged that his undoubted boxing ability may be a factor in preventing some high-profile potential opponents from accepting a fight with him.

“They know what I've done as a fighter, and what I bring, so they don't want to take that risk,” he said.

“But it's just about keeping winning, building momentum, and eventually these guys are going to have to fight me. It's only a matter of time, and I'm looking forward to that test of stepping up to the next level.”

Ward's contest in the National Stadium headlined a night of boxing billed as 'All of the Lights'.

Among the other Irish boxers on the bill was Podge Collins, son of former Athlone Town player and manager Roddy Collins, who won his professional boxing debut with a first round KO victory.