Boxing: Joyce out at semi-final stage
IRISH AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION
"Joyce Bows out at Semi Final Stage "
IRISH lightweight John Joe Joyce bowed out of the Feliks Stamm Senior Multi Nations in Poland at the semi final stage this morning (March 23rd) after he lost out by a margin of five points to ex Polish Olympian Krzysztof Szot in Warsaw.
Joyce, from the St Michael's Athy club, was ahead after round one, level with the Pole at the end of round two, fell behind in round three, and despite a spirited performance in the final round was handed a 22-17 reversal after the final bell.
The nineteen year old was guaranteed at least bronze before this mornings last four showdown and the Director of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association's High Performance Unit was full of praise for the St Michael's Athy man.
Keegan also pointed out that the Polish tournament was the only Senior Multi Nations in four years in which Irish boxersfailed to reach a final.
He said: "Johnny performed very well against Szot today especially when you consider that the Polish lad is a vastly experienced campaigner and the age difference between both boxers.
"Johnny boxed exceptionally well in his last sixteen and quarter finals wins against top class opposition and we are very pleased with his performances out here.
"This is the first senior Multi Nations in four years in which we failed to reach a final and that must be viewed in the context of the fact that we were missing two of our top boxers,Roy Sheehan and Ken Egan, as they are both injured.
"We are using Multi Nations tournaments to assess our squad and fine tune our preparations for Septembers world senior championships which will also act as an Olympic qualifier.
"Overall March has been a very good month for us as we won one gold,four silver and two bronze medals in the senior Multi Nations in Croatia and one bronze medal here.
"Our junior side also won four gold's and one silver medal in Lithuania and it has been a very positive start to what will be a very big year for us."
Joyce's exit brings Irelands interest in the Felikis Stamm tournament to a close. The Irish team will arrive home via Dublin Airport on Sunday.
The Irish team were under team Manager Jim Walsh,Coaches Billy Walsh and Zuar Anita, Physio,Scott Murphy.Seamus Kelly (R&J) and High Performance Director; Gary Keegan, in Warsaw.
(March 23rd) Semi/Final Result from the Felkis Stamm Multi Nations in Warsaw Poland
60Kg: John Joe Joyce (Ireland) lost to Krzysztof Szot (Poland) (17-22),
(March 22nd) Quarter/Final Results from the Feliks Stamm Multi Nations in Warsaw Poland
51Kg: Conor Ahern (Ireland) lost to Samoilenko Igor (Moldovia) RSCO3, (13-34),
60Kg: John Joe Joyce (Ireland) beat Bobimat Ovidiu (Cyprus) (28-21),
75Kg: Darren Sutherland (Ireland) lost to Nowosada Mirslaw (Poland) 19-23,
(March 21st) Last/Sixteen Results from the Feliks Stamm Multi Nations in Warsaw Poland.
75Kg: Darren Sutherland (Ireland) beat Jokinen Niko (Finland) RSC3,
64Kg: Aodh Carlyle (Ireland) lost to Andree Anatoli (Moldovia) 20-23,
60Kg: John Joe Joyce (Ireland) beat Safaryyants Vazgen (Belarus) 5-0,
57Kg: David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) lost to Chedecki Michel (Poland) 1-4,
For Further Information
Bernard O'Neill
Public Relations Officer
Irish Amateur Boxing Association
Tel: +353 086 057 9558/+353 085 763 3090
e-mail: bernard.oneill@oceanfree.net
www.iaba.ie