European Elite champion Joe Ward crashed out of the World Cup after a shock defeat in Cologne, Germany on Friday night. The Westmeath southpaw was controversially adjudged to have been beaten by German light heavy Abu Lubdeh Abdulrahman on a split decision. Both women are the first Irish female boxers to medal at the Chemistry Cup, which has since been rebranded as the World Cup and moved from Halle to Cologne for the 45th edition of the tournament. CHEMISTRY CUP (WORLD CUP)(at Cologne, Germany): Semi-finals – Men – 81kg: A Lubdeh Abdulrahman (Germany) bt J Ward (Ireland) 3-2; 91kg: A Browne (Ireland) bt B Rees (Australia) 5-0. Women – 51kg: C McNaul (Ireland) bt P Rani (India) 3-2; 57kg: M Walsh (Ireland) bt L Lacramioara (Romania) 5-0

Source: The Irish Times April 12, 2019 20:48 UTC