Ward aims for quick return to ring after winning "make or break" fight

Joe Ward was back training in New York last Monday, just a few days after he recorded the first significant win of his professional career by outboxing Marco Delgado.

The 27-year-old is hoping to return to action in the next 4-6 weeks after his unanimous decision victory in the six-round light heavyweight contest in Puerto Rico.

The behind-closed-doors rematch was televised in the US on the NBC Sports Network and, in the build-up, promoter Lou DiBella said it would be "a career-defining moment" for both fighters.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent, Ward acknowledged that the stakes had been high going into it.

"It was a massive fight. It was a make-or-break fight for me, because if I was beaten by Delgado it would probably have ended my career. So there was a lot of pressure on it.

"I had to win, I had to perform, and get myself back on track. If it went wrong, it wouldn't have been great for someone like me who had a wonderful amateur career and high expectations of doing well as a pro.

"I felt I was always going to be good enough to win, but in boxing you never know what's going to happen. It was obvious that I was under pressure, but I kept my cool as much as I could and I was good enough to take all of the rounds."

Delgado (29), who entered the fight with a record of seven wins and one defeat, started the fight very aggressively, swinging wildly at times.

It was also apparent early on that he was willing to use some underhanded tactics, such clinching repeatedly, rabbit-punching the back of Ward's head, and being reckless with his own.

"He was a dirty fighter, he was going in with the head and using the elbows," said Ward. "He knew he couldn't outbox me, he didn't have the same skill level as me, so he was trying everything he could to upset me or maybe cause an injury.

"I felt I performed ok. I kept my composure, kept focused, stuck to the plan, and felt comfortable over the six rounds. As the fight went on, I was able to do more damage."

The cleaner and sharper punches were consistently delivered by Ward. He was troubled by Delgado only once, when the Californian landed a meaty right hook that seemed to temporarily stun him towards the end of the fourth round.

Encouragingly, in what was his first six-round pro fight, Ward showed no real signs of fatigue and landed several snappy combinations in a final round which he completely dominated.

The Moate man said this was testament to his hard work in training and to the guidance of his coaches, Waterford's Jimmy Payne and Joey Gamache, a former two-weight world champion from Maine.

"It was good to have Joey in the corner because he's a very experienced coach. He knew the right tactics, and what I should be doing," said Ward.

"Delgado was a tough opponent and it was a big test for me, especially after the layoff, but I passed it with flying colours.

"I know I'll go on to achieve bigger and better things over the next 12-18 months, but it was nice to get that one out of the way."

After the fight, Ward returned to his base in the Big Apple to resume his training. While the knee injury he suffered in his debut - and then the pandemic - meant it's been a stop-start opening to his pro career, he now has a record of three wins and one defeat, and is keen to have an active 2021.

"I just want to get the ball rolling. I want to keep fighting, keep improving, and put myself in a good situation over the next 12-18 months so that I can move on to the big fights.

"(America) is the place where I need to be. I need to be over here competing, training, eating and sleeping boxing, because this is where champions are made.

"There should be another fight in the next 4-6 weeks. Then after that it will either be one more, or a little break and then go again. But I'm enjoying it. I've been out (of action) for too long, so it's time to push on."

He concluded by thanking his sponsors Barry Murphy, who runs the Ballycumber-based Murphy's Garage and Haulage business, and Onward Athletics, which supplies his boxing gloves and gear in the US.