Operation Europe for John Joyce
John Joyce [6(3)-0] is thinking big.
The Lucan welterweight is one of a raft of rising 147lb prospects in Ireland but has his sights set on making a splash continentally before looking to rule the roost at home
Joyce fights for the seventh time as a pro this Saturday night, boxing on the Assassin ‘Rise Again’ bill at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.
‘The Demogorgon’ is aiming for a win here, and another soonafter, to firmly establish himself with the European Boxing Union.
The European title is currently held by ferocious Spaniard Kerman Lejarra while Frenchman Jordy Weiss is the present occupant of the European Union belt.
While some would argue that Irish then European is the natural order, 31-year-old Joyce thinks differently.
The Dubliner explained to Irish-Boxing.com that “I keep saying that I’m not getting any younger, I need to push past domestic for now and we’ll see towards the end of next year domestically”
“It’s eight fights for recognition in Europe, that’s what I’m looking for and it means I have a big fight after this. ”
“We have someone in mind, I can’t say anything, but we have someone in mind that we’re chasing. We’ll see what happens.”
“I want to see if I can hit that big fight first before I start looking at domestics.”
Joyce faces Henrich Herak [2(1)-3(2)] on Saturday night.
On paper, the Slovak should not provide as stiff a test as Joyce’s last opponent – notably game Bulgarian Angel Emilov – who he shared a six-round war with at Good Counsel GAA Club.
The Irish Army Corporal is keen to keep progressing and has felt the benefits of his battle with Emilov.
Joyce described how “my last fight was a tough, tough, tough fight. It was a toe-to-toe war for the whole fight.”
“I learnt so much from it, I could even notice myself sparring afterwards, I was like a different fighter.”
“I’m developing the way I should be developing. The fights are getting harder, the opponents are getting tougher, and everything is just like a nice step.”
Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)
