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New pro Davey Oliver Joyce planning to show domestic rivals that he is ready for them


David Oliver Joyce was brought the distance for the first time in his professional career at the weekend, but the Mullingar super feather was still mightily impressive – and wants to now move quickly into domestic title contention.

Joyce [3(2)-0] boxed on the Ginley Promotions card at the Devenish Complex in Belfast and claimed a dominant six-round points win over Ivan Godor.

The Slovakian light welterweight champion was an ultra-durable foe, providing the Rio Olympian with some valuable rounds

Joyce was happy with his night’s work, and told Irish-Boxing.com afterwards that “he was a tough lad. I am delighted to get the six rounds in.”

“I watched him back as far as when he fought Bradley Saunders [in 2012] and I knew he was tough and it wouldn’t be too easy.”

It was one-way traffic on the Finaghy Road, with Joyce overwhelming his Central European opponent for all 18 minutes.

Perfect for the pros, the St Michael’s Athy graduate boxed at a ferocious pace and it is something that he believes will serve him well going forward.

Joyce described how “I always box at a high pace and whoever is able to stay with me can stay with me.”

“That has always been my approach, even in the amateurs, so a pacey six rounds was nothing new to me.”

Joyce is back in action in just under five weeks time, featuring on the Ryan Burnett v Zhanat Zhakiyanov undercard at the SSE Odyssey Arena in Belfast on Saturday October 21st.

The 30 year old is keen to progress quickly, and is hopeful of a prominent and tough fight on the Sky Sports show

“I am looking forward to the Ryan Burnett show and hopefully another good few rounds,” said Joyce.

“I want to be fighting for titles by early next year. I have the ability to do it so I don’t want to be messing about with bums for too long.”

“The team know what’s best and they don’t want to rush me, but you know yourself. a fighter wants to be in big fights. This lad was picked tonight to get me rounds and I am glad I got them and I won all six.”

The super featherweight division in Ireland is booming and, while he does not want to name any names, Joyce is keen to get in the mix at a weight that also features James Tennyson, Anto Cacace, Feargal McCrory, Declan Geraghty, and Jono Carroll.

‘The Punisher’ promised that “I am available to fight anyone.”

“I am up for anything and I have the ability to compete with these guys. It’s up to me to show how good I am now.”

“I would love to get some TV on the Burnett card and show the fans and the fighters at the weight how good I am.”

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

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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