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Joe Ward knows that Saturday's bout with Artjom Kasparian at the 3Arena in Dublin is the start of his final chapter – but he intends for his epilogue to be a heart-warming one. Few would begrudge the Westmeath man a real flourish in his final competitive years after a career dominated by amateur successes, but hindered by injuries and the occasional contentious decision going against him. His professional debut, of course, ended in a distressing fashion in Madison Square Garden as he dislocated his kneecap when evading a Marco Delgado strike back in 2019, the resulting surgery putting a hold on his career. Since returning to the ring 14 months later to defeat Luis Alberto Velasco in the first round, 'Mighty Joe’ has been perfect. "I think so, I think so," was his response when the 32-year-old was asked by RTÉ Sport if he feels he is writing the opening paragraph on his final chapter. "This is it, this is my opportunity now. This is where I have to obviously showcase myself and prove to myself that I am a tough fighter still and I'm still in the mix to go on to achieve great things in the pro game." The 2016 Olympian is excited to be back fighting in Dublin, especially as it brings to an end a fallow period where fights fell through, leaving him inactive in the ring since October 2024. "Going back to when I was 11 years old, winning my first national title, then kicking on from there to win 17 more of them," he said of his Irish boxing memories. "As we know, never lost in Ireland, still hold that record after all these years. "It's been some amazing times in Ireland and also around the world and picking up so many medals along the way. "I love boxing, I enjoy it every day and here I'm back now on the big stage as a pro." "I obviously got off to a bad start regarding picking up an injury in Madison Square Garden in 2019 on my (pro) debut," the light-heavyweight continued. "Since that it's been kind of ups and downs and a lot of it out of my control regarding fights falling through, shows falling through. "I've always been in the gym, I've always been ready. I always believed I would get this opportunity as long as I stayed true to myself and keep working hard. "Here it is now, the past is the past. I'm in the moment here now and it's up to me now to go and showcase what I can do Saturday night and push on from here." Kasparian brings with him a 14-0-0 record and hopes of puncturing some of the enthusiasm in the room ahead of the Aaron McKenna-Etinosa Olhia main event. "Look he's a good fighter. He has a good amateur background," said three-time European amateur champion Ward. "He would have been boxed with a national team in Holland. "Now he's a professional, he obviously has a 14 and 0 record. Look I believe he's a good fighter, I believe he'll bring the best out of me, I believe it's a fight that I need to be able to show how good I am. I think come Saturday night it'll be an interesting fight. "I believe the best Joe Ward can not only beat him but beat anybody in the world."