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“It’s a pity I’m not going to the Worlds” – Davey Joyce signs off from underage ranks in style


The undoubted star of the National U18 Championship finals on Friday night was Davey Oliver Joyce.

The Navan boxer, cousin of his Rio Olympian namesake, won the lightweight title with a frankly incredible performance versus Cork’s James Power.

Throwing combinations from all angles, mixing to body and head, and looking every inch a future star, Joyce dominated the decider, inflicting a count in the final round of a one-sided fight versus what was a strong opponent.

The Ballymun BC fighter was typically understated following his fifth Irish title win.

Joyce told Irish-Boxing.com that the win came down to “skill.”

“I just stuck to the gameplan I had in the gym. I focused on boxing over fighting, and I did that throughout, first, second, and third.”

“He had jumped down from 64-65kg so I knew I had the advantage and could go in and dominate.”

It is interesting that the 17-year-old brought up the topic of weight.

Joyce last year won the flyweight under-18 title but, moving up two classes to lightweight, he was defeated in his opening bout of the U18 Irish Open in January.

Joyce last year at 52kg
Joyce last year at 52kg

“I had just jumped up,” noted the rapidly-growing talent who now cuts a solid 60kg figure.

“I feel strong, a lot stronger because I don’t have to kill myself making the weight.”

Indeed, this loss in January – which ended his hopes of going to the European Youth Championships in April and the World Youths later this month – has acted as a motivator for Joyce.

He outlined how “it drove me on, I wanted to win another under-18 title before I turned Senior and I’ve done it.”

“I trained my hardest, I trained every day.”

“It’s a pity I’m not going to the Worlds.”

Next up, instead, for Joyce is a move to the adult ranks and the teenager will no doubt be mixing it at a high level very soon.

“I’ll be ready for the Under-22s in January,” he said, looking ahead.

“I’ll have the headguard off and I’ll prefer that, I won’t be getting caught as much.”

Photo Credit: National Stadium Boxing Videos

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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