Joe Ward wins a cracker, victories for Sam Hickey and Stevie McKenna in Dublin

DUBLIN, Ireland – Light heavyweights Joe Ward and Artjom Kasparian treated fans at Dublin’s 3Arena to a cracking contest, with Ward walking away a narrow winner after 10 rounds on the scorecards.

The former Irish amateur standout had not fought since 2024 and was given hell by the game Kasparian over 10 rounds. Kasparian, 31, brought the heat from the get-go, unloading vicious hooks onto Ward’s midsection. It looked like Ward, 32, was spent in the fourth round, with the Irishman laying on the ropes while Kasparian fired away at his head and body.

Ward survived somehow and eventually came back into the contest, hurting Kasparian on numerous occasions. The contest ebbed and flowed, with both fighters taking it in turns at times to land heavy blows.

The scorecards read 97-93 and 96-94 (twice) to Ward, now 13-1 (8 KOs), at the contest’s conclusion. Kasparian fell to 14-1 (12 KOs) with the first defeat of his career.

Before, Sam Hickey picked up another vicious stoppage – and probably another £50,000 Knockout of the Night bonus – against Bradley Axe, 5-2. The now 6-0 (3 KOs) middleweight from Dundee, Scotland, was given a tough fight against Axe, who didn’t stop throwing. However, Hickey was able to absorb everything that came his way, and when he landed, he did so with spite. The finishing blow came 27 seconds into the seventh session.

Hickey split Axe’s guard with his jab before delivering a right hand that smashed across his rival's chin and laid him unconscious. The 26-year-old Hickey is certainly one to watch for the future.

Also on the card, Stevie McKenna wiped out the overmatched Owen O’Neill, 14-3 (1 KO), inside the opening session to move 17-1 (16 KOs). The pair were trading from the first bell, but O’Neill could not stand up to McKenna’s power. The inevitable happened when a straight right hand smashed into O’Neill and sent him halfway across the ring and face-first into the canvas. His corner instantly threw in the towel and the contest was called off at 1:05 of the opening round.