Sport

Injury ends Ward’s European defence in Belarus

Dislocated kneecap forces Moate boxer to retire as Moylette also loses his title

Joe Ward is led from the ring by team coach Billy Walsh after injuring his left knee in the third round of his light-heavyweight bout against Poland’s Mateusz Tryc at the European Championships in Minsk, Belarus. Photograph: Paul Mohan/Sportsfile
Joe Ward is led from the ring by team coach Billy Walsh after injuring his left knee in the third round of his light-heavyweight bout against Poland’s Mateusz Tryc at the European Championships in Minsk, Belarus. Photograph: Paul Mohan/Sportsfile
Mon Jun 03 2013 - 13:40

Joe Ward’s defence of his European light-heavyweight crown ended in huge disappointment for the Moate boxer after he was forced to retire injured during his first bout at the European Championships in Minsk.

Number one seed Ward was leading after the first two rounds, but with just 20 seconds to go in the third and final round he popped his left knee and was forced to concede to Poland's Mateusz Tryc.

Ranked joint eighth in the world, 19-year-old Ward was favourite to retain the title he won in in 2011 in Turkey.

Irish physio Conor McCarthy said afterwards that Ward had dislocated his left kneecap and they were awaiting the results of an X-ray.

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Ireland saw a second defending champion lose his title as light-welterweight Ray Moylette was beaten by Turkey’s Huseyin Karslioglu.

The Mayo boxer, seeded third in his weight division, lost out on a unanimous (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) decision.

Michael Conlan and Con Sheehan will be in action in the evening session which begins at 5pm Irish time.