Joe Ward - Time To Shine

[Music] Welcome along to the Rocky Road with me, your host, Kevin Byrne. Today we're joined by a man who has one of the most decorated records in modern Irish boxing. Three European gold medals, two world silver medals, an Olympian, and now a professional contender. Since turn and pro, his path hasn't always been straightforward. From overcoming a freak debut injury in New York to stringing together a streak of victories, his most recent opponent in activity is proven to be one of the toughest of all. But that all ends at the three arena on August 8th. Now entering the prime of his light heavyweight career, he stands on the precipice of a massive transition, taking on dangerous, undefeated pressure punchers under the lights of Dana White's sofa boxing platform. The card is headlined by Monhan's Aramakenna fighting Edanosa Alia for the vacant IBF World Middleweight title. And this event represents one of the sofa boxing's premier European cards, live on Sky Sports. The supporting belts are sure to be thrilling with Kalamwalshi and against Britain's Tyler Denny. And Joe Ward, today's guest, finally back in the ring against the Roof Tooth KO machine, Arta Am Kasparian, a Dutch Armenian who boxes out a Manchester. Joe, your opponent comes to Dublin with 14 wins on his record, 12 inside the distance. And 4-0s came in 2025 when you found yourself sitting on the shelf. You don't do things by half, do you, Joe? No, definitely not. I think this is a huge opportunity for me. I knew when I signed up a sofa boxing Dana White, Nick Kahn that there's going to be really good fights, competitive fights, fights that would take me to the next level. And I feel like this is the first of it and I'm really looking forward to it. Yeah, what's Rani Desire on your behalf to have, I suppose what people would call a tune up fight or an easy mark and easy victory just to get yourself back in the ring, shake off the ring rust, because yeah, you are going in tough like for, you know, have enough fought since 2024 at the national stadium when you start the metrioth feed-ass after the end of the sixth round. What's Rani Desire to kind of have a handy one like you see, it plagues boxing a bit, doesn't it? People don't want to fight because they don't want to take on tough challenges because they want an easy one first, but it's understandable too. Yeah, you can understand it, but for me it was about making sure that I got back in there. As you know, a few of my fights felt true. One in the locker, my locker football stadium and a couple of more shows felt true, leading up to it. So, yeah, it wasn't kind of something that I kind of really put me foot down and was kind of getting in the moment for, I was kind of quite happy just to get back in there. I've been in the gym, I've been working hard, I've been spanned, really good guys in the gym and I know where I'm at and I believe that I would be 100% ready, come August it. Yeah, it's an exciting night at boxing, Joe, and it comes in a busy summer for Irish boxing with the kicked off with Jay Burn at La Prada's town a few weeks ago, had a big show and then Pierre Solerie at the three arena a week later than this big Zofa boxing card and it culminates with Katie Taylor. Katie Taylor and Jay Burn has another show then in September, but Katie Taylor at Crow Park is so much happening in Irish boxing at the minute, Joe, and it must be just a pleasure to be in amongst it and not watching it from the side lines. Yeah, absolutely. To see so many pro shows happening on Ireland is amazing because again, so many young people in opportunity now to be able to go and fulfill their dreams and to be a professional boxer and get opportunities to fight back home in Ireland and yeah, these shows going on especially with Jay Burn, he's putting on a lot of shows which is great and small hall shows which is giving people an opportunity to be a pro and to build their career and maybe get an opportunity in the bigger shows as soon as they build up a record or so it's definitely an ideal in that sense. For myself it's just great to give an opportunity to fight in the tree with another fighter, I've been a member watching it on our team and we can burn it down, use the fight there. So yeah, to be given the opportunity is you to me and to be in a really tough fight, it would make some more special because I know I'm going to have to be 100% and I'm going to have to make sure that everything goes to plan and be victorious on the night. Yeah, Joe, how do you guard against inactivity? Obviously your opponent, a lot of activity there last year with four fights, four wins, how do you guard against it because it's something that I'm sure you've discussed with your coach, Jimmy Payne. Yeah, I try not to worry about too much. I believe that you're staying in the gym, you're active in the gym, you're sparing and I know it's not like the real fight itself but do you really get a lot from beaten fellas with massive losing records and that's something that I've seen that he built up a nice record of beaten guys with losing records and yeah, it looks good on paper but do you really learn a lot from it? Just levels and boxing and just levels in this game and we know that I'm way ahead of all the level of fires he fought so far and he'll understand that and realized that when he's in there with me that it's a different bar game at a different level and yeah, I don't really think about too much about inactivity, I believe that I'm ready, I believe my spire speaks for itself and I'm fully confident of putting on a great performance. Yeah, so during your time at the ring you haven't have you had any extended spells where you haven't been in the gym or you've always been kind of like I need to stay ready, something's gonna come here. I've been always in the gym, I've been always training, I've been away in camps with other fighters, preparing them for fights so I've been always ready, keeping away, getting good quality sparring and just waiting for that call and I knew so far it was always gonna come because I was kind of one of the early ones that kind of put me near forward for it so I knew what was gonna happen and it was just matter of when it was gonna happen and yeah, it was great to be given the opportunity to defy my first one in Ireland and the tree arena so it's exciting times. Yeah, absolutely and Joe, despite your quality in the ring and your reputation and your ability to go all the way to become a world champion which many of us firmly believe in, like you've struggled to get that promotional backing that some water fighters get and not every fighter does get it or is lucky enough to get it. Obviously when you began as a professional you were signed with Luda Beller promotions but you know since things have gone cold there in the last couple of years, how did the Zuffa Boxen link come about? Yeah, okay, it's like everything you have ups and downs in your career and with me obviously, I know that Waubez was a really devastated injury then the kind of balance back in the Naubez call that came in so it was a few years, it kind of stopped start of my career and just to be given opportunity by Zuffa, it was it was used for me because it's like a second chapter in my career and I was like something that's new that I feel like now is my opportunity because I feel like this is the platform that I needed to be on Sky Sports, beyond these big platforms to give me these big fights and Sufah was an all-brainer that's what it's out to do and that's what I want to be part of. Was it somebody in your in your backroom team that made the contact or was it was a damn comment to you? I'm just curious as to as to how the link formed really between you and Zuffa as well. Yeah, it was it was just something that just came to me and they asked me what to be interested in doing it and I absolutely I said I think it's a it's a said as an all-brainer for me because I was struggling to get them big fights, got them big shows due to me in activity but also due to the to the understanding that fighters at the top level knew how good I was, how damn was the worst day of all, they weren't going to give me that chance so I needed something like Sufah to come in and and the shaking is open, give me the opportunity to hopefully go on to have big fights again all the big names. Yeah, and I suppose they have invested big in Irish boxing at this stage as well like we saw Fergal McCroary and I fight and I wanted a big cards in Las Vegas earlier in the year but now they've obviously had Kalam Walch has their first star really signed up to the Mechanic Brothers Aaron and Stevie and Aaron has a world title fight on this card as well so there's a big investment here in Irish boxing and I'm sure you're glad to be involved. Absolutely look at I think Kalam was a huge help to us all because obviously he was with Deanna from the very very start and I think it really helps to have some like Kalam there that always already fought the tree arena with Deanna so he understood like to mean the atmosphere that what happens on a tree arena night like to mean the electric and we're probably the best fans in the world I would say let me get behind each other and make the most nice anyway so yeah I know it's really really exciting times and I think to be an Irish boxer in the beginning of the opportunity to fight these big shows to mean you had to be grateful and thankful for for this opportunity. Yeah Joe your opponent, Artem Kasparian, he looks decent like I've watched a few of his clips he looks like a power puncher, relentless pressure and heavy hands what's your scouting being like have you left his head coaches have you looked him up yourself have you come up with a big game plan for beaten or more is it more like I've seen an off I've watched one or two things on it yeah yeah look yeah look I'm aware of him I know he would have boxed a national team in Holland for some time he boxed a few of obvious my rivals myself back in damage a day so yeah I'm pretty I'm pretty I'm pretty I know like what what what what easy I know how good he is, I know what he carries. But I believe the best version of me and the best version of him, those two or three levels in the difference. And I believe that I'm at a different level than him. And I'm going to show it from August 8 in the tree arena. I believe personally believe that this will be a masterclass, but also a useless performance. And they will set me up nicely to go on to big fights, like really big fights, hopefully, with the opportunity and the rootlesses of me. What sort of opponents do you like to fight, Joe? Like, do you like to obviously as a tall South Park counter-puncher that carries power? You've got your style down. But you can mix it up. You can fight anyway. When we first saw you as a 17-year-old, you were this marauding ball. And you can do it every way, really. Which kind of opponent do you like to come up against? Is an opponent like Kasparian who's going to be in your face all night? Is he made for you? Or is that sometimes like that makes for a tough night, doesn't it? Because he's going to be coming all night until you stamp your authority or you'll hopefully do so already. Yeah, absolutely. Look at it. The people here have been very, very successful in amateur. You come up against all styles. And I've been looking off to fight all styles. Like guys that always moves around, guys that comes out make guys that are reckless, who keeps going forward. But the way I look at it is just that for me it's just about being the best version of me. If I'm on my A game, if I find a distance, it's a hard night's work for anybody. And they're going to find a very, very difficult. And I sparred a lot of top fighters and this is the one thing. They didn't realize how difficult it is until they were front of me. How hard it is. I mean, how drained it is to be front to me and the things I naturally do in there. It's sometimes, yeah, it can very frustrating and they can realize quickly that there's something X factor about this guy. I don't mean there's something special about him. And that's the reason why he's been so successful. Yeah, well, Joe, like you've had your show before and we spoke about your background. But like for anyone, listen in for the first time, like you're born into a sporting family. There's hundreds of Irish titles in your family with cousins, uncles and all sorts and your grandfather obviously is the great big Joe Joyce. And Joe, you share, you yourself share a birthday with Diego Maradona and Johnny Joyles. You're destined for success from an early age. Well, I would have not had nobody. Absolutely. I mean, that's something that I bring with me. Yeah, I think so. I think so. As I said, look at I've been blessed with how successful I've been over the years as a boxer, what I've done as a amateur. And now I really believe that this is it. Like this is my chance now to show the world how good a pro-yam as a fighter. So yeah, look at this again. I'm just absolutely looking so far. It's like, I mean, everything is going to plan. I believe this is the best show award now. The main I've been shown in the ring and I'm just, I can't wait to show them on Fight Night. And as I said, like this is it. Like, I'm ready. I'm excited. And I believe this is my time. Did you ever lose any enthusiasm for your sport and your times out of the ring? You're obviously doing this a very, very long time at this stage. I first, first watched you in a boxing ring live, you know, 15, 16 years ago and you were probably boxing for 10 years before that as well as a kid. And you're tying out in a ring with all the politics of boxing and all the scratch around for fights. Did you ever lose your enthusiasm for it? Because I'm sure it's back now with this opportunity and this chance to take what you believe is right for yours. There was 21 years ago since I won my first national title. So I mean, and I've been under and I've been under and the scene 21 years like to me and I've been the first time I walked into the national stadium when my first national title. There was a lot of people sitting down and watching it, who took down my name like and probably said, I wonder how far this guy will go or how long he'll stay in the game for. So I mean, I love the sport. I love boxing. Boxing gave me huge opportunities in life. For me, I got to travel the world. I got to meet so many great people. And I achieved so much and look at, to me, I know no different and I love the game. I absolutely love it. I give, so I even give back to the young kids now when I have my spare time. I'm involved in the Atlone boxing club. I tried to develop that and try to obviously and we've been looking up now to be with the local councils, which is for the community. We're going to build a known state, the new premises for atlone boxing up. So for me, it's just, it's something that I love, something I do and something that I'm privileged to be still able to do at the highest level. And I believe that that's going to continue for a good few more years because I look after my body, I take care of it. And yeah, boxing is, it means a lot to me. Like to me, I've been on young lads who do really well, one national title this year. So it makes it even more, more of a, especially for me to be able to go in there and be part to be around them and see them developing and obviously leading away from myself to be a role model to show them that look at this. The way I fall, these are the opportunities you can get if you dedicate yourself, you work hard, you believe in yourself. And that's what I love giving back. Yeah, so you're not having a Joe that boxing is a, you're seeing obviously the kids coming up in your, in your role coach and with your sons and I'm sure all their friends as well, but are you having a tada boxing as a young man's game? Obviously leading the forefront of Irish boxing to many. You got like Pier Soleri, Calamwalts, Paddy Donovan, Aaron McKenna, you're a couple of years older than those lads, but I suppose maybe you might look a K-tailer about to have a final fight at the age of 40. Does plenty of room in there Joe? Absolutely. I think it's all depends on you. And to me, I think it's a fighting style and obviously how you look after your body. I've been looking off down through the years that I never took a lot of punishment. My style didn't soak up a lot of a lot of punishment and yeah, I've over 300 fights, but it looks sometimes looking to my run, I still think of one of 20. But obviously, it doesn't say that. But no, look at it. I think it's very important that it's how you look after yourself and make sure that you're not taking too much punishment and training and so flight that put. It's definitely, it's definitely, you need a bit of youth in your side, but for me, I think I'm the best, best I've ever been, I mean mentally and physically. Can you tell us about your preparation for this fight Joe? Did you, you said you've been on the road for camps and stuff like that and you've had, I'm sure, lots of sparring. Can you tell us a bit about your prep? Yeah, I've been looking off and we've been training away and I'm best out of water for it, but I've been over and I'm in Spain training. I've been having some good spires in the UK also. I've been training in Spain there and Andy Lee's gym and so, so yeah, the, the sparring has been going really well. The preparation's gone really well and I've been putting the work in, I think I mean, there's no, there's no shortcuts to do some work and sell the gig as Boston and go with. So yeah, I've been getting around doing the miles and getting the rounds in and making sure the body is 100% ready. Yeah, Andy Lee obviously has been whittaker over there in Hamza. Sure as have you done any rounds in sparring with those guys? Yeah, I've been, I've did some rounds, I've had to share this. Obviously, no, to his last fight there and I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, obviously working towards my fight and they were sharing, we did some rounds. So it was good. I enjoyed it and it's good work. So that's what, that's what's all about. Like, I mean, you just got to put the work in and make sure there's no stone unturned and we're 100% already. Has he kept you away, Andy from, from Ben Whittaker, obviously, potential rival down the line, former sparring partner of Kasparians as well and he had been whittaker in a couple of months against Connor Wallace from Ireland in a fight in Birmingham. Have you, you haven't done any rounds with, with Ben? No, I haven't done any rounds with Ben. No, the only person I, I, I spiraled was Hansel Sharers. He was in the gym. I wish he was preparing for his fight the same I was, but no, I haven't done any rounds with Ben as a pro. And yeah, I see there's a good fight with him, Connor Wallace. It's, yeah, definitely could be opponents down the line. Obviously, Joe, you have to win your next fight before you can even think about what's next, but many, in many a conversation with you over the years, we've talked about, you've spoken about your desire to face like the best of Britain and like, there's just a lot of lads or interangualy class over there and we look at the, the world titles they're held by the Mee tree B.V.R. holds WBA, IBF and WBO and David Benavides holds WBC. Obviously getting a crack at Ireland, or those will be dream scenes for you. Is it complicated a bit by Zofo boxing and, and they have their own belts and, and, and might be playing the game or do you feel that there's enough room to still achieve all your dreams and fight anyone you want? Should you, should you progress and get the victories? I would like to think so. I would like to think that some of Boston would be able to get to the best opportunities to fight the best guys in the division when that time comes and they'll be able to be streamed fights, the fight like the Mee tree B.V.R. or something like that. David Fights had really, really wanted to look forward to it if they were over, over after to me. I definitely say yes to them, but if we said one fight at a time, I can't overlook my opponent and it's, look at that, I have to take care of business and, and move on and hopefully I think it will be the moment and I think I will want them to be. fights. Joe obviously earlier in the summer you were supposed to fight at a long town stadium that was announced in May and it was for June but it was quickly postponed it was gonna be a sheer sports card and what what happened there Joe was at a big disappointment not to get to get to fight so close to home. Yeah usually the prime minister look at us one of my dreams was to fight in in my local football stadium and to be given the opportunity was absolutely special and I was really looking forward to it but the problem was it was the short window of me knowing I was gonna find Silfa and to be squeezed that in and then when the ball starts to move like to me there's always complications and and stuff out of my control and but hopefully it will happen down the line hopefully something like that will happen and I know the footballs up the owners the the backroom staff they're very supportive they really wanted to happen they wanted to make it happen but there's just small details and time wasn't on our side did they make that happen and due to obviously my open call on fight with Super Boxing so yeah we have to kind of postpone it but hopefully down the line that would be something that I would love to do obviously we're fighting in my local football stadium. Yeah like KD Taylor has crow park but Joe Ward you had at loans at long town stadium maybe maybe for a fight next summer or something like that for a world title that's something that you're very determined to do is it? Absolutely no I think it'd be absolutely amazing to be great for everyone and there's not too many people can say there been a headline an outdoor football stadium sure so I'm to do something like that would be very special to me be great for the community be great for the people be able to come watch me locally and be great for the club but the club about loan and the young people as well to know like that and come and say no one that maybe somebody they can do that yeah because I you know he's trying to picture the scene when it was announced I'm sure it would have been like a wild night at at Lone Stent at like the excitement in the air would have been crazy and it was you know it's a pity you have to fall through but it would have been a hectic night I'm sure and looking at the scenes down the mayo of them bringing back some sure it was at Lone Town Stadium could have been something like that yeah absolutely look at it just events like this to a news day happen or never how happened and someone like in a Lone or at Lone Town Stadium so it be something new we're so excited and I think yeah I think that was fair and the people of that Lone would have met at a very special night but look at this said I have hopefully that would have been a good and regarding me all I was great to see them when I think every one of them and there are nothing to carry from what I like to see me all when you could make Ridge and me all after 75 years and some some amazing football players did you yeah did you watch the match on Sunday there yeah yeah watch the match at all it was absolutely brilliant I talked to the the Mewa team there that has indeed the will to win like to mean just to never never die out at you like I mean when they went down really on just to keep flitting back and me some of my young players is absolutely incredible I mean the no fear no fear is right Jan and Irish boxing champ up front as well and the number 14 Ryan Adoni who won an Irish title at 33 kilos back in the day and he's some fighter on the pitch yeah absolutely I mean he was leading most of that effort for the most like he was he was he was me I'd lead the team that really push on and believe in ourselves but look at this head like with people like himself and many voters around and like to mean it me all deserve to finish one of the features of the GA summer has been that kind of belief I think it kicked off by loud really like why not us you know why not us and I think Westmead picked up the baton and one of lends to find I'm sure you're delighted with that and then may old doctor that went on to win some as well so it's it's a powerful little piece of psychology just if you've got the ability if you've got to believe why not us absolutely the mean you counter like Westmead here like I mean I didn't want to have an answer for for a number of years there and normally get a chance and as you said like me in a bit of momentum bit of belief and then they can happen and we see we see what they did like me in the couple of games they went to title like I mean digging deep and not afraid to take it take it all I take the challenge on and believe in yourself and I mean do it an answer title it's especially for a counter like Westmead yeah and all roles leading back to Kroger for September the fifth Joe will you go along to to Kroger to see Kady Taylor's final fight yeah I definitely hope from to be there I think it be it's it's gonna be especially nice for all these K.E. I think I'm very well-powered but I think also too like to me be given opportunities for the eight thousand people to show you the power of what she's done over the years to build up foundation and how much for role model she's the people because to me K.E. Taylor's to it's a great athlete that I'll never have in all sports to me what she's achieved as an amateur as a pro and as a person herself I can be an in-cade in the amateur there's like such a down-dirt lovely person who just really really works hard in the gym and dedicate her whole life to boxing and know to be able to up that final opportunity to do something as she always wanted to do and especially then definitely I want to be there to witness it yeah absolutely yeah Kroger Park being taken over for a box match is gonna be for a full house for a box match is really gonna be a crazy scene to see absolutely I mean you just watch the G.E. and you see that atmosphere there already it tells the people and imagine when there's a boxing important middle of it then people gonna stop each other on the place I was there on Sunday with my father who's from Mayo you know and it was it was remarkable was unbelievable the emotion in the ground and I was trying to picture it I was I was thinking to myself I'm gonna be back here in five or six weeks time for boxing and all of these fans in the stadium are gonna be here to to watch boxing which is just probably unbelievable in my lifetime in some people say it may never happen again there's plenty of Irish boxers who are already saying I wanted to be meeters Adam Alanian who's on the card at Kroh Park and it's Adam and I will be boxing here I will be fighting for World title at Kroh Park headlining it myself and then there's Pier Soleri headline at the three arena again and and he's I think he nearly fought at Kroh Park but it would have compromised his own three arena show so he he backed himself to go back again at three arena but he's determined in a year two time maybe three or four but he'll be he'll be at Kroh Park so there's a lot a lot of a lot of belief and I think a role model like Katie Taylor has as really made things possible for young Irish boxers see what's there definitely look at it you always have to believe in these some of them fires as great fighters like to me and I really have government and going for them and but the fighting Kroh Park you gotta be something special I mean the last person to fight in Kroh Park of for man Kate Taylor was Muhammad Ali like to me so I mean during a different Palestine and I think I mean to see Kelly Taylor got this opportunity it's amazing and it's not less than she deserves but I for me personally I think it could be a long-long time again for the season when it was headline Kroh Park as an boxing event and to sell it out like Kate Taylor has done yeah yeah you have to know each other a long time your old amateur teammate went to the Olympics together do you remember first coming in did first meet in KT Taylor yeah I would have my KT Taylor like when I was pretty young enough like me would have went up to the the national stadium do a stume squad trying to softlight out what I seen around and when I was about 16 and but she always did I like to mean she was inspiring the lads like me and really giving them socks for them sometimes coming out on top like you just have to admire it like to me because like Tim Thomas I wasn't a huge amount of girls in and around Jim so I see some like KT Taylor doing what she was doing and then obviously be like successful like when in all these your opinions words Olympics to me like this girl this woman is a phenomenal fighter and a great person and to me what she's done for a female boxing and boxing around the world has been absolutely incredible like to me and she's after put it on the maps and it's just yeah it's great to see know that she will care opportunity and to me she she her name we mentioned in the boxing female boxing and boxing for many the many years yeah we've mentioned a lot of boxers today in this show and from Andy Lee who's been before your time in the amateur system to KT Taylor and then yourself and many more one common link between them all is a is a Georgian coach called Zorantia who has picked up and left to join Billy Walsh in the United States and what's of a blow is it to Irish boxing or is it a blow at all to Irish boxing that Zorant has taken on a new challenge in the States and what would you say you learn from them? It's a huge blow and I would think because what Zorant has done for Irish boxing that's nothing but it being incredible like to me he to me Zorantia is the one that to grow Irish boxing to med Irish boxing to where it was back in 2008-2012-2016 he was the driving force he was the man that was on that floor demonstrating for an hour and a half talking to his visualizing and working with him to come up a tactic shown as certain fundamentals that needs to be used and I became a very close friend of Zorantia over the years and he's a great man he's a great coach and he would be definitely sadly missed for Irish boxing because it says the Irish boxing is in its place at the moment and we've been able to get out of it for the last number of years regarding success in the big tournament so this is someone having someone not like Zorantia is going to be even making more difficult than and so hopefully they can pull us together and somebody can lead that way and start picking up medals here and there to give the rest of the team some bit of confidence and belief that they can do the same. - Yeah, how well do you think he's gonna go down in the States? You've spent plenty of time in the gyms of the United States. How well do you think Sora's gonna go down over there? - See, with some legs or he can go respect for you very quickly because like if you can jump into the ring and demonstrate things that you've probably never seen before. At least he's a ten-steen, he's leveling and what he puts into it. It's very easy to buy into it because you know what he's talking about. You know what he's doing with these teams work. I mean, these teams generally work when you're in the ring and we love he's got you and over the line to be successful. So I think he will do really well. I think the Americans is in a good place now and regarding amateur game and then I think they're gonna be very successful. And in LA, I think came some really good fires and at the Zores, some of the Zores stuff into that and can make them really dangerous. - Yeah, a home Olympics for the United States next time as well. It definitely makes them dangerous. - Yeah, it's definitely, it's gonna be a big challenge for the rest of the nations. They will always get one over them. But look at, they have to believe in themselves, they have to work hard and then look at their some-wutters power nations out there that's gonna do well as well. So it'd be great to see. But hopefully I'll then get in the mix and I'm not the moment. It's just unfortunate and just not fine with all of the things and just haven't got the fires at the moment that really demeaned go turn and be consistent in the middle of the medals. - What do you think that is, Joel? You obviously came from a team that was, you know, you were teammates like Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlon, like metal factories along with yourself and I suppose the last remnant of that team might be Kelly Harrington and her record is second and on two Olympic gold medals never been done in Irish boxing. But what do you think it is? Does it be a slight drop off? - Okay, Kelly Harrington, you have the Roxas and Darrow is gonna be a huge force in boxing, female boxing and the team Darrow will always be the main driving force to be successful in the next Olympics. But on the male side of things, like you said, you had Lexi and me serve Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlon and a lot more fighters that was going to these major tournaments and if it wasn't me, it was them so it went to medals. So we were sure going on to a plane going to any major tournament that we were gonna bring home one, two, three, four medals. And but it's just not happening now for this team, like you mean, just not happening and what is the reason? It's hard to figure out what is the reason, but for me, I think the youth system, it's pretty strong, the junior system is pretty strong when it's in a strong team, or the formations or the Europeans, or the younger age, they're all successful. So where's the gap between that and then obviously going into elite level? So maybe they need to look back at the other system of draft in young kids in at the younger age, 16, 17 and developing them and maybe financially supporting them with Irish sports council to keep them there, to keep them more of it, to keep them in that system, brought our leave into the 21, 22, where they'll probably look at the probably have more in their life than regard and relationships or jobs that they can't fully commit to it and maybe they're not as hungry to commit to it. So I would personally think the best is they got them as 16, 17 to really bring the element of the system to fearless and let them off the leash term when they're ready, 18, 19. - That's the time to go, yeah. - I think so, I think so. I think the main reason is, is to able it in most, in most of the teams like the top guys now who are in the early 20s, like to be a man in most of the medals. - Yeah, yeah, so that on leash, the inner Kobe, my tunnel, the Irish boxing. - If we can get someone, if we can get someone who's gifted as him, that would be bad, we have some good young guys coming up and I think look at hopefully we can get it all together because it's a pity to see that like an national Irish team going to these championships and not to suspect any of the lights are all good, last and all that, but it's probably, they're probably favorite. I mean, if you're a big nation, you're probably hoping to draw an area in Irish boxer and it's come to us days now where before we were, people was fair and as we walked in there, we had that fair that they knew like to mean the come up in Irish guy that it's going to be a hard fight, even though they're going to lose like. - Yeah, do you think all a place a big part in boxing because of like, oh, Jay, that's team Ireland, there's Jason Quigley, there's Joe Ward, there's party bans, there's Mike Conn, then everybody kind of glows underneath that aura as well, whereas if you don't have that, then everybody's kind of a little bit more vulnerable. - Yeah, and I think so, I think that's the problem. That's what it's saying, we need that lead and force, and some of them just go there and start to live in, and start winning medals, I can say, winning medals. And bring the rest of the team around them, kind of like the, as I said, I like that, right, keen in Manchester United, so many times where they're chipping the shoulder, no one like look, we're unbeatable here, like we're fearless, we're going to hear no, we're going to win five medals, 10 medals. And look at that, a lot of this is down to people saying, oh, going there and perform, it's great to perform, have your performance right, and all that, nature takes its course. And I mean, but I personally think that, and today is one of these major challenges. It's mean, good, bad, or ugly, it should be, it should be, it should be winner. I mean, you shouldn't need to know how to win, you need to know how to get over the line, you need to know how to get to the medals, and bring them home. - That is an, that is an interesting one as well, because the topic of performance is taken over, all those questions about Irish sport, you do hear people being defeated, and any sport and saying, I'm happy with my performance. I did what I wanted to do, I performed, and I didn't get the decision on the day or I didn't win the match on the day, but I'm happy I performed. You reckon there has to be something else along with that. - Absolutely, I mean, the performance is great, not that, but then people forget very quickly how you perform, like, I mean, people remember that the winners, people remember to be able to win the medals at the major championships, like, to mean, like, it's great to perform and all that, but as I also, I could perform as a lose, I'd rather have a power performance than win, and move on to the next one, I can make it better, I didn't. - Yeah, the dog, the dog and so do you have to have the inner dog. - Yeah, you got a lot to win. I mean, good bye, Rugby, you got a lot to win, you got a lot to get over the line to, to catch you into that medal stage, because your performance will always get better. As you go along, or, as you go along, and deeper into the championships and stuff like that, but they have to look at someone has to stand up these fighters, these male fighters has to look and say, and say, look, we gotta start, start winning, start delivering, start bringing back medals. And not only one of them might, I mean, there has to be two or three in there, winning to say, look at, I'm gonna lead this team, I'm gonna be the one that's gonna be bringing back medals after medals. And look at me, we have to say, can you even do the free years? He was the one that was going through these major tournaments, can mean picking the bronze here, picking up a medal here, getting to, I mean, and that's the difference. They start building the medal, and then someone else wants to do it. Someone else also did a year, four or five in the team, and then everyone in the team then has the mindset of thinking, well, if I don't win a medal, I'm gonna be at the back of the plan, so I need to win a medal. They got to the front of the plan, when everyone's walking off on the, when the RTS outside or the media's outside, I mean, when they're doing it, if you don't want to be at the back, if you want to be at the front of it. - Yeah, absolutely. Are you taking that, that's obviously something you firmly believe in, is that how you approach a professional career? Like, I mean, it's obviously important for you to put in a good performance against Kasparian at the three arena, but winning is more important. - Absolutely, it's just, whatever it takes, I mean, winning is the main, the main priority, the main focus in me, and that's all I see is winning the fight like. However, it's gonna be, I wanna do everything in my possible, where the wind is fighting, and there's no dollar will win it, but I think with his style, what he can bring to the ring, I think I will look good winning style. I really, really, really believe that. I think sometimes as you said earlier on about certain styles, suit certain opponents, and I think he style will bring the best out of me. - Yeah, Joe, just before we go, tell us about your Junglads box, and you mentioned some Irish titles there as well, and it's great to see the success continue in the family. - Yeah, absolutely, the main two good lads, and I mean, my old lad picked up his turn, "Natchen and Tite this year." I'm a Junglads, my second lad, just one, he's first national title. He's doing really well when he's first national title this year by one. So yeah, Bokka is exciting times ahead, or-- - Bokka is by one, it begins again. - Yeah, back to roll back to yours. By one, 50 kilos. It's not figured in my hand, no, to me, there's a lot more, that nutrition is better now. But noise, big lad is a good lad. He's a look at me, and my round box in lockdown, we're very, very special kids. - And many entries in the Bokka won't like. That's a fiercely competitive thing. How many entries would he have had to go through like? - He had four fights to win it. I was two in the Nantesters and two in the national. And yeah, he's up to the four opponents. So he's a strong Junglads, who's doing well. And look at it, he boxed there recently in Mungstown. He won that, he went over to England and boxed in English, boxed Copone that. So he's got plenty of experience. And yeah, he keeps telling me he's to anyone, the house. at some beaten so he's yet no no so kind of kind of hurt that but sometimes yeah they they've got it down already um at those they are those kind of wins in the corner are satisfying as any win you've had like watching your sons win Irish titles it's no mean feat no definitely not it's look at it it'd be a motion sometimes to watch it but it's great to see that they look the sport as much as i love it and they enjoy doing it and they make life easier for me they're pretty good at so it's it's great to see them and yeah especially my older that this year he was beaten in the by-tree final and for him the bounce back and he considered the the the the mindset changing when he was beaten asher the worker he kept on ended the the why he wanted to do the belief in himself to get back to be number one again in Ireland was it was great to see like to me and it shows it the mindset that they have the win mentality of knowing that look at they have to put the work in there's no easy way out this and and the harder to train are we success comes they got your style of oxygen show or fight it a bit differently yeah you could look at the as Jimmy Pence is a chip at the outfielders block like I mean it's there's certain sim when you watch them fight you kind of and you then you pick up that or definitely they're definitely trained and and by myself and and so yeah to have that kind of style all right my second out is a sub-part two so he's kind of it's kind of a younger Joe war when I was fighting back in the days of Kennedy can fuzz like that aggressive going forward and strong good shots very well David air to support you I'm sure you're fighting for you after three rena yeah you big family affair to be all there to support me and hopefully I can do them all proud and as I said point of grip performance I'm sure you sound excited Joe you sound refreshed you sound good you sound a happy a happy fight it's a dangerous fire that's what I say and definitely my happy fire I know the workout put in over the last number of months and years and then I feel like it's a hit from day one this is it like this is all here now for me to really go on and showcase myself and then we want the big things well for a that that's dead the rocky road with Joe Ward on the way to Dublin August the 80 takes on Artyon Kasparian on a Zofo box in Cardinal Blythe on Scotsport for anyone's to tune in yeah Joe thanks so much today for joining us on the rocky road for that update it's been great thanks very much for having me on it's always a pleasure and I'm yeah looking forward to (upbeat music)