Final APB bouts this weekend for Joyce and Ward
On Saturday, Joe Ward and David Oliver Joyce will have their last bouts of the AIBA Professional Boxing Cycle 1. With Rio 2016 qualification out of the question following reversals in their previous bouts, this weekend’s fights are solely for rankings points
In Sofia, Bulgaria, Ward meets Joseph Kennedy St. Pierre of Mauritius in the light heavyweight division. The African islander won silver at last year’s Commonwealth Games as well as gold in the 2011 All-Africa Games.
21 year old Ward is one of Ireland’s most decorated and talented boxers having won gold in the 2011 European Championships and bronze in the 2013 World Championships, and the Moate man will be looking to get back to winning ways after his fourth round stoppage loss to Mathieu Bauderlique last month.
In Tashkent, Uzbekistan, lightweight David Oliver Joyce will battle over eight rounds with Brazil’s Robson Conceição. The Brazilian has won silvers in the World Championships (2013) and Pan-American Games (2011).
Joyce is a triple EU gold medalist (2009, 2010, 2014) and the 28 year old will want to vent his disappointment having been harshly adjudged to have lost in May to home fighter, Hurshid Tojibaev.
