Joe Ward (boxer)

Amateur career

2009 | World Junior Championships

Ward won his first major gold medal in 2009, at the World Junior Championships in Yerevan, Armenia. Ward defeated Armenian fighter Hayk Khachatryan in the Light-Middleweight final.

Results:

• Denis Rybak: Won - RSC (3rd round)
• Rustam Musaadzhiyev: Won - RSC (2nd round)
• Ravshanjon Abdunazarov: Won - PTS (12:2)
• Hayk Khachatryan: Won - RSC (3rd round)

2010 | World Youth Championships

In May 2010, Ward won his second World title at the World Youth Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. He defeated Australia's Damien Hooper in the final, this time at Middleweight.

Results:

• Bekim Vjerdha: Won - RSC (2nd round)
• Frank Sanchez: Won - PTS (8:1)
• Kazim Eneyev: Won - PTS (9:6)
• Leonardo Carrillo: Won - PTS (11:3)
• Damien Hooper: Won - PTS (6:1)

2011 | European Amateur Championships

At the 2011 European Amateur Boxing Championships in Ankara, Ward secured at least a silver medal after victory over Imre Szellő of Hungary in the semi-finals. Ward then met Nikita Ivanov in the Light-Heavyweight final, where he took the gold medal after a 20-12 victory over the Russian.

Results:

• Ainar Karlson: Won - PTS (10:7)
• Simone Fiori: Won - PTS (15:13)
• Imre Szello: Won - PTS (18:8)
• Nikita Ivanov: Won - PTS (20:12)

2013 | World Amateur Championships

In October 2013, at 19 years of age, Ward won a bronze medal at the World Amateur Boxing Championships in Almaty. Ward lost to title holder, 2011 World Champion Julio César la Cruz in the semi final. The Cuban went on to retain his title with a gold medal in the final.

Results:

• Mateusz Tryc: Won - PTS (3:0)
• Norbert Harcsa: Won - PTS (3:0)
• Nikita Ivanov: Won - PTS (3:0)
• Julio César La Cruz: Lost - PTS (0:3)

2015 | European Amateur Championships

Ward won his second European gold in Samokov, Bulgaria in August. Despite an accidental clash of heads opening up a small cut above Ward’s left eye, he continued a stylish performance to seal victory over Dutch fighter Peter Mullenberg in the final.

Results:

• Idris Shakhmanov: Won - PTS (3:0)
• Nikoloz Sekhniashvili: Won - PTS (3:0)
• Mikhail Dauhaliavets: Won - PTS (3:0)
• Hrvoje Sep: Won - PTS (3:0)
• Peter Mullenberg: Won - PTS (3:0)

2015 | World Amateur Championships

In October, Ward returned to the World Championships, this time in Doha. Ward made it to the final but missed out on gold when he once again met world champion Julio César La Cruz. The '2015 AIBA World Boxer of the Year' made it three consecutive world championships despite a brave performance from Ward - five years his junior.

Results:

• Oleksandr Khyzhniak: Won - PTS (3:0)
• Mikhail Dauhaliavets: Won - PTS (3:0)
• Elshod Rasulov: Won - PTS (3:0)
• Julio César La Cruz: Lost - PTS (0:3)