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Nothing to Lose – John Joyce heads into Noely Murphy match-up free of pressure


John Joyce [7(4)-0] is just a few days away from jetting off to Boston and will do so with a clear mind.

Having built throughout 2017 and 2018, the Lucan welterweight now goes into his first major fight as a pro on his biggest stage yet.

Joyce takes on Cork’s Noely Murphy [12(2)-1(0)-1] over eight rounds at the House of Blues in one of the main fights on the Murphys Boxing ‘St Patrick’s Clash IV’ card.

For the first time as a professional Joyce will be an underdog and it’s a position the Irish Army Corporal is happy to be in.

“In my eyes I have nothing to lose,” he explained to Irish-Boxing.com.

“I don’t care, win, lose, or draw. I have nothing to lose. This is the kind of fight I wanted.”

“Obviously I am going to win, but if I don’t it doesn’t set me back, so I haven’t got that fear factor at all.”

“I am always going to be the underdog. I am only 7-0, he has 14 fights and 12 wins. I am always going to be the underdog and I don’t care.”

“There is no pressure on me. I will just go out and do my thing and that’s it.”

While the domestic scene has been heating up in Ireland, abroad is where Joyce always wanted to go.

The single-minded 32-year-old outlined how the Stateside chance “is huge for me.”

“I kept saying it to Tony [Davitt, manager] ‘I want a big fight outside of Ireland’. I have been saying it to him since before Christmas. I didn’t want to box here anymore for a while. Getting me something big outside Ireland.”

“The I was talking to you at Irish-Boxing.com about Noely Murphy and it just took off from there. It’s happening now I am delighted.”

READ: John Joyce wants Noely Murphy fight

While the semi-call-out might suggest some personal animosity towards Macroom’s Murphy, Joyce has explained how his desire for the fight was purely due to location.

Indeed, ‘The Demogorgon’ barely knows his New York-based opponent.

“I’ve never talked to the guy in my life,” he laughed.

“I know he was a good amateur and he was won 12 fights. He has done well and fair play to him for what he has done in his career.”

“I have so much respect for him. I have respect for anyone that fights. I am so happy he took the fight, fair play to him, I am delighted.”

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Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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