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Davey Oliver Joyce delighted to finally get breakthrough chance


Davey Oliver Joyce [9(7)-0] predicts he will go from feeling excited to feeling fantastic in just under eight weeks’ time.

Having worked his way through the early stages of a pro career, the keen to kick on Olympian has been handed the breakthrough bout he has been calling for.

On Friday March 15th in Manchester the Mullingar fighter will drop down to featherweight trade leather with Scotland’s Stephen Tiffney [10(4)-1] for the vaant WBO European belt.

It’s not just the kind of test Joyce has been calling for, but a title fight that can greatly secure him a world ranking and put him on a path towards current champ Óscar Valdez.

The 31-year-old, who trains alongside Luke Keeler and Gary Cully under Pete Taylor, is delighted to be given the chance to show what he can do having spent much of 2018 frustrated with his lack of progression.

Fights with Marco McCullough (allegedly), and Ronnie Clark, both fell through for the Westmeath man who will now make the step up at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre.

“There’s real excitement now in the camp. There’s massive motivation now. Even last year, I was saying I wanted big fights,” said Joyce.

“The opportunity has come and I simply can’t wait for it. I’m feeling great in camp already and that’s after just two weeks. In eight weeks’ time, I’m going to be feeling fantastic.”

Tiffney, once highly-rated before a shock Scottish title defeat to Lewis Paulin, claims a fight with Joyce is the perfect way to start the year.

The Edinburgh fighter outlined how “It’s the perfect fight for me at this time. These are the bouts I’m after and he’s a good opponent who is going to bring the best out of me.

“I’ve seen a few of his fights in the past and I’ve known of him ever since he was doing well things in the amateurs. It’s a contest that really excites me, especially with a title being on the line.

“This is a great way to start the year. Once you get your first title it can push you on to bigger and better things, so I’m looking forward to getting in there.”

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Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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