David Oliver Joyce Jr following in the footsteps of Olympian cousin with impressive Irish title win

David Oliver Joyce may have gone pro, but there is still a DOJ tearing up opponents in the National Stadium.

Joyce’s first cousin – also called David Oliver Joyce – claimed the National U18 flyweight title last night, his fourth all-Ireland.

The Ballymun BC scrapper was involved in a competitive, high-quality fight with Leeside Lough’s Ownie McDonagh in Dublin, but a dominant opener and a good second round saw Joyce hold off a strong finish from his Cork opponent.

Still only 16, and eligible for next year’s championships, Joyce looked powerful in the ring and buckled his opponent’s legs in the first.

Looking back on the fight, Joyce told Irish-Boxing.com that “I felt strong, I’ve been doing lots of strength and condition over the last few weeks and it paid off in this fight.”

“I boxed good, I trained my heart out for it in the club. Vernon [Carroll, father of pro Jono] and Gavin [Jordan] trained me every day in the club to help me achieve this.”

With a somewhat similar style and an identical name, Joyce is carrying the torch from his Olympian cousin – whom he recalls watching in the Stadium. Indeed for last night’s fight, the Navan teen wore a vest given to him by the triple EU gold medalist.

“I used to see him fight here!” Joyce noted.

“He’d give me tips. We fight similar, just keeping the forward momentum.”

Next up for the youngster, pending selection, is the European Youth Championships in Turkey this September.

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Joe O’Neill and Gavan Casey speak to Jason Quigley on Episode 5 of The Irish Boxing Show: