Joe Ward lines out for the British Lionhearts for the second time this season against Italia Thunder in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) on Friday night.
Ward will meet Bulgaria’s Blagoy Naydenov, the 2014 Olympic Youth light-heavy champion.
The Westmeath southpaw Ward who won his first bout of this season for the Lionhearts on a unanimous decision over Damir Plantic of the Croatian Knights in Newcastle last month.
The three-time European Elite champion will be aiming to improve to 2 and 0 on St Patrick’s eve.
“I had a good training camp. All is going well, looking forward to it,” said the World Elite finalist.“I’m fighting a Bulgarian lad. It should be a good bout.”
Irish coach Dmitry Dmitruk will be working Ward’s corner in Milan
The Lionhearts and Thunder met a fortnight ago in Liverpool and the home side won.They currently sit second in the four-team European group with seven points with the Italians in third with four.
The France Fighting Roosters top the table on nine points and will face the Lionhearts on April 14 in Newport.
Rio Olympian Ward will also fight in Newport.