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Joe Ward, blue, in action against Bahran Muzaffer of Turkey (file photo). ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan
Boxing

Ward breaks back into world top 10

Katie Taylor remains the undisputed world number one in the latest AIBA boxing rankings for October.

MOATE’S JOE WARD has made it into the world top 10 in the latest AIBA world boxing rankings.

Ward, the reigning European champion, was Ireland’s only significant mover in October, jumping up one place from 11th in the light-heavyweight division.

Elsewhere it’s as you were for the Irish fighters with six boxers now ranked in the top 12 of their respective categories and three in the world top three.

As expected, Olympic gold medallist and four-time world champion Katie Taylor remains the undisputed number one in the women’s lightweight class. Taylor is 1,000 points ahead of her nearest rival, beaten Olympic finalist Sofya Ochigava of Russia.

Olympic silver medallist John Joe Nevin is ranked third in the light-flyweight division while London bronze winner Michael Conlan is third in the bantamweight class.

Light-flyweight bronze medallist Paddy Barnes is seventh while Ray Moylette, the reigning European light-welterweight champion, is at number eight.

Kilkenny’s Darren O’Neill, who captained the Irish squad at the London Games, stays at 11th in the middleweight division.

AIBA rankings are based on performances at approved tournaments over a two-year rolling period. The next AIBA ranking tournament for men will be next month’s 2012 AIBA World Youth Championships in Armenia, while the 2013 European Championships will be the next chance for women to score points.

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