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Joe Ward (file photo). INPHO/Cathal Noonan
Boxing

Ward and McComb progress to last 16 of World Championships

The Irish fighters both recorded wins in Kazakhstan today.

IRELAND’S JOE WARD AND Sean McComb are through to the last-16 of the AIBA World Elite Men’s Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Belfast lightweight McComb recorded a unanimous decision win against Gilda Bangana of the Central African Republic 30-26, 30-26, 30-27 this morning and will face Azerbaijan’s Elvin Isayev in the next round on Tuesday.

Westmeath light-heavyweight Ward, meanwhile, took on Polish opponent Mateusz Tryc and earned a 30-27, 30-26, 30-27 victory.

“I was a bit impatient because when you’re sitting around for a week you can get frustrated and that,” Ward told the Irish Sports Council. ”It was good to get the first one over with.

I caught him with some nice clean punches. I was catching him everytime. The plan was to meet him as he comes, attack with three or four and take him off his balance. Everything worked quite well.”

The pair join fellow Irish fighters Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlan, Jason Quigley and Tommy McCarthy in the next round of their respective divisions.

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