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“It’s my own fault” – John Joyce believes Noel Murphy fight came too early

An honest John Joyce [7(4)-1(0)] believes he jumped up in levels too soon.

The boxing solider got his war wish and secured a fight with Noel Murphy in Boston on St Patrick’s Day, but came out second best in the all-Irish affair.

The Lucan native was outscored by his more schooled Cork foe and, while he enjoyed the whole Murphy’s Boxing experience, he claimed inexperience cost him.

The straight-talking toughman points out that it was he who pushed his team to make the fight and, in hindsight, suggests he may have been best served moving up the ranks at a more gradual pace.

“It was brilliant [to fight in Boston], but it’s a fight I took too early. It’s my own fault,” he told Irish-Boxing.com.

“I pushed and hounded Tony [Davitt, coach and manager] into making it so the defeat is down to me and nobody else!”

“I think my performance could have been a lot better but my inexperience showed against a much better fighter.”

The Dubliner was dropped heavily in the opener en-route to a 80-71 x3 unanimous decision defeat.

While Joyce feels the fight came too early for him, there may be benefits from the experience

The TDP fighter’s profile has certainly risen while the manner in which he came back from being on the canvas in the first round won him respect.

Joyce claims he wasn’t overly hurt after the knockdown and stresses he wasn’t surprised he bit down on the gum shield to grow back into the fight and make the final bell comfortably.

Describing the fight, ‘The Demogorgon’ outlined how “I started well in my opinion and got caught cold and I couldn’t get going again until about the end of the seventh going into the eighth.”

“I was a bit disoriented with getting dropped but I didn’t feel hurt, just annoyed that I went down,” he adds.

“I know I’m tough and rugged it’s the best trait I have so I wasn’t a shock for me to keep going. I am just glad I did.”

Calling Murphy the ‘much better fighter’ shows the respect the 32-year-old has for the Macroom boxer’s ability – but he also respects Murphy the man.

“He is a great fighter and a lovely guy and I really hope beating me helps him move forward.”

Joyce remains a name in a strong domestic welterweight mix and can certainly have big fights back home if he wishes, but the man that more often than not follows team orders will discuss his next move with Davitt before announcing any future plans.

“I will be having a chat with Tony when I get home and we will see, until then, I haven’t a clue”

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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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