Hard-hitting Joyce steps up in style

IRELAND’S amateur boxers got off to a flying start in the multi-nations tournament in Zagreb — the Zlatio Hebid 2007 — yesterday with David Oliver Joyce particularly impressive in his fourth round stoppage of Amtomin Lazoc (Czech Republic) in a hard-hitting featherweight contest.

Joyce, who campaigned at bantamweight last year when he held the national title, made the move up to featherweight for this year’s national senior championships and stripped his clubmate, Eric Donovan, of the crown in an enthralling final at the National Stadium.

And he highlighted the fact that he can operate at the weight at international level with an exhibition of combination punching against the Czech in yesterday’s opener, leading all the way until the referee stopped the contest.