Win for Ward sets up world final against Cuban star

Joe Ward has delivered another big performance on the global stage to secure a place in the world championship final in Germany. 

The 23-year-old Moate boxer defeated Uzbekistan’s Bektemir Melikuziev on a split decision this evening (Friday) to ensure that he will be leaving Hamburg with a minimum of a silver medal. 

The medal - whatever the colour - will be his third at a senior world championships and he is now the first male Irish boxer to reach two world championship finals. 

His opponent in tomorrow’s decider will be the classy Cuban Julio César La Cruz, who has won gold at the last three worlds and also took gold at the Olympics in Rio last year.

Ward is well aware of how difficult an opponent Cruz will be, as the Cuban previously defeated him in the world championships semi final in 2013 and in the final in 2015.

The local man gave him a tougher test in their second bout but it's likely that he will need to produce the best display of his career if he is to claim his first senior world championship gold medal tomorrow.