Joe Ward's boxing career was once filled with promise. As a teenage sensation, he had already made history by becoming the youngest Irish boxer to claim a gold medal at the senior European Championships in 2011. His impressive performance sparked high hopes for his potential at the London Olympics.

However, Ward's journey was soon marred by a series of unfortunate events. At the 2012 qualification event in Trabzon, Turkey, he lost a contentious decision to the host nation's boxer, despite many believing he had won the fight.

Ward reflected on the disappointment, stating, 'My main goal was always to get to the Olympics in London. Trabzon just wasn't to be, as you know.

It felt like we won the fight and we just didn't get the decision.' He then set his sights on the 2016 Olympics, only to suffer another setback when he was given two points deductions by the referee, resulting in his elimination from the competition. Ward recalled, 'It was one of these things that was out of my control...

I picked up two public warnings, where I was still winning on the scorecards but because of the warnings I was beaten on a 3-2 split decision.' Despite these disappointments, Ward persevered and went on to win three European golds and several World Championship medals. He acknowledged, 'It's not an accident to be consistently winning...

You have to have something a little bit special about you.' Ward's inability to secure an Olympic medal, however, had a significant impact on his career trajectory. In 2019, he decided to turn professional, making his debut at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Unfortunately, disaster struck again when his knee dislocated in the second round, leaving his career hanging in the balance. Ward admitted, 'You kind of question it sometimes... It could have happened somewhere else but I believe everything happens for a reason.' Following a successful operation, Ward remained determined to continue his career. He recognized that the business of boxing can be unforgiving, but he stayed patient and focused.

Now, Ward is set to face undefeated light-heavyweight contender Artjom Kasparian in Dublin, live on Sky Sports. He emphasized, 'There's no point getting in there to take easy fights... It's an opportunity to step up and fight decent fighters and move on and challenge myself to see how far I can really take it.' Ward believes that his past experiences, though marked by misfortune, have made him a stronger person and will ultimately give him an edge in his future fights.

He concluded, 'The most important thing as a fighter is to still believe in yourself, still stay focused, still keep in the gym, keep learning. Doors will open for you, opportunities will come... I've had a lot of ups and downs in my career but looking back I'm grateful for opportunities and grateful for what I've achieved.'