Joe Ward is through to the final of the 81kg category at the AIBA World Championships in Hamburg, Germany after defeating Bektemir Melikuziev of Uzbekistan via split decision on Friday evening.
The result means that Ward will face Julio La Cruz - The man who defeated him in the 2015 - in the final, and also means that Ward is the first Irish fighter ever to reach two World Championship finals.
New #Hamburg2017WCH Light Heavyweight Finalist (81KG)!
Joe WARD (IRL) WP 3:2 vs Bektemir MELIKUZIEV (UZB) ?#AIBAFamily @IABABOXING pic.twitter.com/RbY9QFWAic— AIBA (@AIBA_Boxing) September 1, 2017
The man from Moate, Westmeath advanced after winning 3:2 against his opponent who claimed silver at the 2016 Olympics, and thankfully the footage has emerged online for those who wish to watch the fight in full.
Well done Joe!
A solid performance, he now has a chance to a his avenge his 2015 final loss, and we can't wait to see how he gets on.
After success at youth level, Ward claimed bronze in 2013, and then silver in 2015, so 2017 is his time for gold going by basic mathematics. Unfortunately, La Cruz will have his own ideas, but here's hoping that this is Joe's time.
