Joe Ward staved off disaster, beating Artjom Kasparian on a unanimous decision after 10 ferocious rounds at the 3Arena in Dublin, marking his first fight since 2024 and a comeback to the big‑time.

At 17, Ward was already Ireland’s youngest senior European amateur gold medallist, but misfortune dogged his career – a knee dislocation and a lost professional debut – before he returned to the ring with sharp southpaw punches that nicked Kasparian’s right eye.

Kasparian pressed forward, testing Ward’s chin with consecutive right hooks, while Ward’s arms grew weary and he leaned on clinches; a seventh‑round backhand revived his spirit, a second wind in the eighth let him dictate the action, and the crowd roared as he raised both arms at the final bell.

The night also delivered a sensational start for Stevie McKenna, who knocked out Owen O’Neill in the first round, a brutal one‑punch stoppage by Sam Hickey, a tight 59‑55 decision for Louis Greene over Romania’s Daniel Buciuc, a points win for Connor Coyle over Mark Beuke, and an early stoppage of Spain’s Juan Manuel Moriel by Patrick O’Connor; he will now face the IBF middleweight champion in a highly anticipated showdown on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.