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Fight night

Celtic fever for Nevin, Ward in WSB

John Joe Nevin and Joe Ward will both be in action tonight as the British Lionhearts take on the Italia Thunder in Wales.

OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALLIST John Joe Nevin returns to the ring tonight to make his British Lionhearts debut in the World Series of Boxing.

There will be a strong Irish flavour in Celtic Manor when Nevin and and European light-middleweight champion Joe Ward star on a five-fight card against the Italia Thunder team.

Nevin, who did a remarkable u-turn to stay in the amateur ranks after agreeing terms to turn professional with Amir Khan, comes up against Serbian lightweight Branimir Stankovic.

The Mullingar man was fighting for the Paris United team when the two met during last season’s WSB, a fight which went the distance before Nevin won on a split decision.

Moate southpaw Ward makes his debut in the competition against a familiar foe in Imre Szello of Hungary. The bout is a repeat of the 2011 European Elite semi-final which Ward won comfortably 18-8 before going on to claim the gold medal.

British Olympic silver medallists Andrew Selby and Fred Evans also line out for the Lionhearts, with top African heavyweight Mohammed Arjaoui closing the card against the unbeaten Matteo Modugno.

The WSB is an annual competition which sees 12 franchises of amateur boxers compete in professional-style bouts. Nine Irish fighters, including London bronze medallist Michael Conlan, are involved in the 2012 tournament which began last weekend.