Joe Ward Bounces Back at 3Arena
Joe Ward successfully revived his professional career with a unanimous decision victory over Artjom Kasparian in a grueling 10-round contest at the 3Arena in Dublin. After a career plagued by injury—most notably a knee dislocation that hampered his professional debut—Ward faced a significant test against the relentless Kasparian. Despite showing signs of fatigue in the middle rounds, Ward rallied in the seventh to dictate the final stages of the fight, proving his resilience in his first outing since 2024.
McKenna and Hickey Deliver Stoppages
The undercard featured explosive performances from Stevie McKenna and Sam Hickey. Stevie McKenna secured a first-round stoppage against Owen O'Neill, overwhelming his opponent with a heavy combination that forced an immediate end to the bout. Similarly, middleweight prospect Sam Hickey continued his momentum with a clinical one-punch finish in the seventh round against Brad Axe, ending the fight after a booming right hand forced the towel to be thrown.
Additional Results and Injury Update
In other action, Louis Greene secured a 59-55 points victory over Daniel Buciuc, while Connor Coyle maintained his composure to win a unanimous decision (98-92, 98-93, 97-93) against Mark Beuke, despite sustaining a cut near his eye.
In the cruiserweight division, American prospect Patrick O'Connor moved to 4-0 with a victory over Juan Manuel Moriel. The bout was cut short after the first round when Moriel retired on his stool, citing a shoulder injury that prevented him from continuing. O'Connor remains undefeated, with all four of his professional wins coming by way of stoppage.
The canvas was a dull, bruised violet where the light failed to reach the corners.