DOJ congratulates Selimov following Olympic defeat

A magnanimous Davey Oliver Joyce admits that he could not have done much more in his lightweight Last 16 bout with Albert Selimov last night in Rio.

The Mullingar scrapper was eliminated from the Olympics by the Azeri star on a competitive unanimous decision (28-29) at the Riocentro, and Joyce told RTÉ afterwards that “I knew getting in here tonight it was going to be tough and I’d have to be on the top of my game.”

“Unfortunately I came out the wrong side of it, that’s the way it goes.”

“Every fight I’m in I give it everything I have and if that’s good enough to bring me through I’m delighted with it.”

“We thought we could have done enough just to nick it.”

“But tonight I gave everything I could in there and unfortunately I came out the wrong side.”

The St Michael’s Athy 29 year old was hugely complimentary to his opponent, and predicted top prize for his decorated defeater, explaining that “he’s not number two in the World for nothing, he’s a really good guy.”

“Congratulations to him.”

“I’ll take nothing away from him, he’s a great guy and I’m sure he’ll go on and win the Olympic gold medal.”