Sutherland boost, but Joyces in shock exit

IT WAS a day of amazing contrasts for Irish boxers at the World Championships in Chicago yesterday when middleweight Darren Sutherland had his hand raised in victory without having thrown a punch and then David Oliver Joyce, who threw every punch in the book, went out of the tournament to Davi Souza of Brazil 21-10.

Sutherland got a walkover when his opponent failed to make the 75kg limit at yesterday’s early-morning weigh-in and now the Irishman finds himself just two contests away from Olympic qualification.

But nothing can be taken for granted here, where featherweight David Oliver Joyce was expected to beat the Brazilian.