Impressive TKO win for Ward in London

Moate boxer Joe Ward recorded an impressive fourth round TKO victory over German opponent Satula Abdulai in London on Friday night. The 19-year-old light heavyweight dominated the contest and rocked Abdulai back on his heels with heavy shots in the second and third rounds, before the 22-year-old German retired during the fourth round with an arm injury. Ward was boxing for the second time in the World Series of Boxing (WSB), which involves top-class amateurs boxing without a headguard or vest. The bouts are longer than in standard amateur boxing as they take place over five, instead of three, three-minute rounds. In his first WSB bout, Ward outclassed Hungarian Imre Szello, winning all five rounds en route to a win on points in Wales last month. Speaking in the ring following his latest victory on Friday night, Ward said he was pleased with his performance. "When I had my first WSB fight in Wales it was a bit different because I was just getting used to the system and I was more afraid of (clashes of) heads and things like that. But this evening I really enjoyed it in there," he said. "I was in control all the way through the fight and I knew that if I got in there with my combinations I was going to hurt him. I put a good tempo on the fight so I knew I'd wear him down. I'm very happy with my performance."