BOXING/IRISH SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS:LAST YEAR 17-year-old Joe Ward unseated Kenny Egan from a decade of rule, and a rivalry was born. Egan (30), an Olympic silver medallist from Beijing, shouldered a week of teenager and European champion Ward chiding him as an "old man".
Ward, now 18, has never been short on confidence.
Despite Egan’s roguish past and his no-shows, the 10-times Irish champion always had a way of pleasing the crowd, landing on his feet. Last night at a packed National Stadium, that came to an end as Egan came to realise, probably for the first time, that the future at light heavyweight is not him. Last night was confirmation of last year’s upset. Ward was an emphatic winner.
Insouciant, big-muscled, the teenager was almost carefree as he stepped into the ring, Egan business like and focused. There was little doubt the crowd favoured the Dublin fighter but when the bell rang it was Ward aggressively flailing forwards, stumbling at one point, to land big ones on Egan. When Egan landed one on Ward at the end of the round, the 19-year-old defiantly threw an arm in the air. No problem. Ward took the opener 9-5.
That was the beginning. Ward’s big swinging arms were hurting. The Olympic medallist remained calm and tried to pick his scores but Ward was overwhelming and staggered Egan in the second to a standing count, the round ending 17-8 to the younger man.
That was a chasm to bridge and while Ward was almost punched out, he had done plenty and Egan had little to unload. The bout unfolded to a settlement of sorts, Ward flicking out his glove, Egan unable to score. The final changing of the guard ended with the score board ticking over in favour of the Moate boxer, in the end 29-10.
“The best of luck to him in the qualifiers,” said Egan. “If he qualifies I’m going to put a couple of grand on him to win a medal.
“I’m going to be back again. I’ll take a break now. There’s nothing to do now but go back to the drawing board.”
Ward was more respectful afterwards, although not surprised with his second title.
“I went in with the right tactics and I’m very happy with the way it went. I have to thank Eddie [Bolger, his coach],” said Ward. “I knew he’d get them right and he did. I knew if I missed, Ken would come into me but I didn’t.
“No disrespect to him he’s a great boxer. Ken is a legend but it’s good that someone new in coming in now. To go in and beat Ken by – what was it, 19 points ? – is a great achievement. I got my tactics right and now it’s all for the Olympic qualifiers.”
Paddy Barnes, after a year of injury and struggle to get fit, saw his way past a spirited Hugh Myres in the light flyweight division. In a cracking opening fight, the 2008 Olympic medallist pulled away in the third round after Myres went toe to toe.
At 8-8 after the first round and 14-13 after the second, there was an audible gasp from the crowd that Barnes was not further ahead after throwing twice as many punches. Showing his experience, the reigning champion found better accuracy in the final minutes, winning it 8-4 and the fight 21-17.
John Joe Nevin won the bantamweight title after the already London-qualified champion beat his cousin Michael Nevin. Twice a World Championship medallist, Nevin moved effortlessly around the ring and forced his opponent to a standing count in the second round to lead 12-2. There was little family affection as a visit to the canvas in the third for the challenger secured Nevin his fifth elite title 23-3.
Ireland’s third London-qualified boxer, Michael Conlan, earned his first elite title, beating Chris Phelan in the flyweight decider. The West Belfast boxer moved from 6-2 ahead in the first round to beat his Ryston opponent handsomely, 19-11. London 2012 Olympian Darren O’Neill received a walkover against Conor Coyle. The Derry middleweight withdrew with an injury to his left hand.
RESULTS: MEN – 49kg (Light-flyweight): P Barnes (Holy Family) beat H Myres (Ryston) 21-17, 56kg (Bantamweight): J J Nevin (Cavan) beat M Nevin (Portlaoise) 23-3, 52kg (Flyweight): M Conlan (St John Bosco) beat C Phelan (Ryston) 19-11,
81kg (Light-heavyweight): Joe Ward (Moate) v Ken Egan (Neilstown) 29-10,
60kg (Lightweight): M McDonagh (St Marys) beat D Joyce (St Michaels Athy) 17-14,
75kg (Middleweight) Darren ONeill (Paulstown) beat Conor Coyle (St Josephs) W/O
WOMEN – 48kg (Light-flyweight): L McEnery (St Pauls) beat O Samsanov (Cavan) 16-13
57kg (Featherweight): M Walsh (Holy Family) beat D Duffy (Ryston) 14-13
