Joe Ward (red) in action
Joe Ward meets Russia’s Muslim Gadzhimagomedov for the European Elite light-heavyweight title in Kharkiv, Ukraine this afternoon.
Click here for today’s finals.
A “veteran” of the international Elite circuit even though he’s just 23, the Moate BC (Westmeath) southpaw will be aiming for his third title at this level since audaciously winning European Elite gold versus Russia’s Nikita Ivanov in Turkey in 2011 aged just 17. Ray Moylette, like Ward an ex World Youth champion, claimed gold the same day six years ago.
Saturday’s final begin at 2pm (Irish time). Ward v Gadzhimagomedov is the 8th fight on the card.
Ireland will be bringing home three medals from Kharkiv, courtesy of Ward (at least silver) and double bronze for Brendan Irvine and Kurt Walker.
Ward, who claimed his second European gold in Bulgaria in 2015, Irvine, Walker and Sean McComb qualified for the World Championships in Hamburg, Germany in August/September after reaching the quarter-finals in Kharkiv.
Team Ireland are due to arrive home via Dublin Airport (Terminal 1) at 10.50pm this Sunday night.
European Elite Men’s Championships Kharkiv, Ukraine June 14th/25th
June 16th
(Last 32)
64kg Sean McComb (Ireland) beat Erik Agateljan (Czech Republic) 5-0
June 17th:
Last 32
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat SeverianeChildaze (Georgia) 5-0
69kg Steven Donnelly (Ireland) lost to Sergei Sobylinski (Russia) 0-5
June 18th
Last 32
60kg Pat Mongan (Ireland) lost to Artur Bril (Germany) 0-5
75kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) beat Bartosz Golebiewski (Poland) 3-2
June 19th
Last 16
52kg Brendan Irvine (Ireland) beat Bathuhan Citfci (Turkey) 5-0
60kg Sean McComb (Ireland) beat Vitaly Dunaystev (Russia) 3-2
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) lost to Viktor Vykhryst (Ukraine) TKO2
June 20th
Last 16
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Tayfur Aliyev (Azerbaijan) 4-1
75kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) lost to Kamran Shakhsuvarly (Azerbaijan) 0-5
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Matus Strnisko (Slovakia) 5-0
91kg Darren O’Neill (Ireland) lost to Ramazazaqn Musilimov (Ukraine) 1-4
June 21st
Q/Finals
52kg Brendan Irvine (Ireland) beat Gabriel Escobar (Spain) 5-0
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Raffaele Di Serio (Italy) 3-1
64kg Sean McComb (Ireland) lost to Luke McCormack (England) 2-3
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Sean Lazzerini (Scotland) 5-0
June 23rd
S/Finals
52kg Brendan Irvine (Ireland) lost to Niall Dean Farrell (England) 0-5
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) lost to Mykola Butsenko (Ukraine) 0-5
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Valentino Manfredonia (Italy) 5-0
June 24th
Finals
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) v Muslim Gadzhimagomedov (Russia)
Irish squad
52kg – Flyweight – Brendan Irvine (St Pauls) (Bronze)
56kg – Bantamweight – Kurt Walker (Canal) (Bronze)
60kg – Lightweight – Patrick Mongan (Olympic)
64kg – Light-welter – Sean McComb (Holy Trinity)
69kg – Welterweight – Steven Donnelly (All Saints)
75kg – Middleweight – Emmett Brennan (Glasnevin)
81kg – Light-heavy – Joe Ward (Moate) (Silver, at least)
91kg – Heavyweight – Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)
91+kg – Super-heavy – Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)
High-Performance Director/Head of Delegation: Bernard Dunne
Head Coach: Zaur Antia
Coaches: Dmitry Dimitruc, Jimmy Payne, Eoin Pluck
Physio: Seamus Caffrey
Doctor: Jim Clover
Strength & Conditioning: John Cleary
Performance Analysis: Alan Swanton