Steven Ward delighted with “very comfortable” step up win

It was mission accomplished for Belfast’s Steven Ward [2(0)-0] on Saturday night in Coventry.

The light heavyweight got a quickfire second pro bout under his belt, took a step up in class, and claimed a comprehensive win.

The Commonwealth Games silver medalist had debuted last month on the big Belfast Boxnation show, but it was all change at the weekend, fighting at the swanky Hilton Hotel.

It was in a change in terms of opponent too. Ward had debuted against frustratingly awkward survivor Merdjidin Yuseinov, but this time round he took on capable come-forward tester Remigijus Ziausys.

Ward would rise to the occasion, flooring the Lithuanian in the third with an uppercut en-route to a dominant win. Happy with his performance over in England, the 26 year old told Irish-Boxing.com how “the fight went really well. I was expecting a tough fight with Remigijus to come forward strong the whole time like he does with in most fights, but I was able to get the jab established early and got very comfortable from the start.”

“I preferred this fight [over his debut] as Remigijus took a few chances and was able to leave some openings for me to work on a few things that I had been doing in the gym.”

Ziausys was a surprisingly strong second opponent for Ward, but the Ulsterman, nicknamed ‘The Quiet Man,’ is not one to shout about being fast-tracked, and described how “I’m not sure about being moved along fast, obviously all that is between Oliver in my corner and MGM. All I can do it fight who they put in front of me. They are a great management so I’ve 100% faith in them.”

It’s been a successful start to life in the pros for the former Monkstown amateur, and he, like the rest of us, is excited for 2017. Ward outlined that “I plan to be as busy as always and be out a lot. I’m really looking forward to next year and what it brings. There’s exciting times ahead for boxing, especially in Belfast with all the talent oozing out of it!”

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)