Joe Ward to stay amateur for 2020 Tokyo Olympics
It has been confirmed that Joe Ward is to stay amateur for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020.
The Moate light heavyweight last month won a record third European gold medal, but it would emerge in the aftermath of the tournament in Ukraine that he was in talks with three separate promoters.
However, following talks with new High Performance Unit Director Bernard Dunne, Ward has committed to the cause for the next three years, taking in the upcoming World Championships in Germany, the 2019 European and World Championships, and of course the 2020 Olympics in Japan.
The news was confirmed at an open media workout this morning at the Institute of Sport in Abbotstown, with Ward also being named as the Irish team captain going forward.
Still only 23 years old, Ward’s medal cabinet contains his aforementioned three European golds as well as World silver and bronze, while he also represented Ireland at the Rio Olympics last year.
In this time the Westmeath southpaw has also competed in the World Series of Boxing and AIBA Pro Boxing circuit, while he won gold at both the World Youth and World Junior Championships.
