Awesome Joyce powers to European quarter-final

DAVID OLIVER JOYCE set up what promises to be an enthralling quarter-final with the Olympic champion, Vasyl Lomachenko (Ukraine), with a resounding 12-3 victory over Englishman Joe Murray at the European Senior Boxing Championships in Liverpool yesterday.

To date, Ireland has three boxers through to the quarter-finals following victories for Joyce, Ryan Lindberg and Ross Hickey over the weekend.

The biggest disappointment was last night’s light heavyweight contest, that saw Darren O’Neill bow out — losing 11-5 to Grishunis Nilolajs (Latvia).

David Oliver Joyce almost held one of England’s big medal hopes, Joe Murray, scoreless in a thrilling featherweight contest.

Joyce was leading 12-0 going into the fourth round when he hit Murray, a medallist at the world championships in Chicago last year, with a low blow but, in fairness to him, the Englishman got to his feet and got two points for his pain when Joyce got a public warning.

He would only score one more point, however, as Joyce finished the contest in style and left coach Billy Walsh singing his praises.

“It was a fantastic performance,” Walsh said. “Davy had Murray down from two left hooks to the head in the second round. It was a truly masterful performance.

“Davy was very patient, drew his man in and then nailed him each time. It should be remembered that Murray was a medallist at the world championships in Chicago last year and boxed in this year’s Olympics.”

On Saturday, bantamweight Ryan Lindberg beat the 2006 European silver medallist, Samir Mammadov (Azerbaijan) and Wicklow lightweight, Ross Hickey, beat Oleksandr Kluchko (Ukraine) 10-3 to qualify for tomorrow’s quarter finals.

There were disappointing losses for Baldoyle flyweight, Conor Ahern, who was disqualified in the fourth round of his bruising battle with Salonmo N’Tuve (Sweden) and Donegal welterweight, Willie McLoughlin, who lost 7-2 to the experienced German, Jack Culcay-Keth.

It was a very impressive performance from Ryan Lindberg. The young Belfast man from the Immaculata club — an Irish Examiner Junior Sports Star Award winner last year — boxed beyond his years to reverse a decision that went against him when he fought Mammadov last July.

He restricted Mammadov to just three points winning the first round 1-0, the second 4-1 and the third 3-0 to leave himself with a comfortable cushion going into the final round.

“Let’s face it, he was up against it against a reigning European silver medallist and former world junior champion,” coach Billy Walsh said.

“Ryan’s defence was superb and he came forward with three and four punch combinations — all clean punches — which guaranteed him a point. That was very important in a contest that was always going to be tight.”

Today he will face Germany’s Denis Makarov in the quarter finals and a win will guarantee him a bronze medal at least.

Lightweight Ross Hickey also put himself just one fight away from a European medal with a 10-3 victory over Oleksandr Kluchko (Ukraine) with a skilful performance that should boost his confidence no end.

“If Ross had a problem then it was probably a lack of belief in his own ability,” coach Walsh admitted. “But I think he can build on this win over a very experienced opponent.”

Darren O’Neill left his best form behind him when he entered the ring for a contest he should have won. The Paulstown southpaw shared the first round 1-1 but lost every other round en route to disappointing defeat.

“Darren has won gold medals all over the place and lost to an opponent he should have beaten in normal circumstances,” Billy Walsh said.

Conor Ahern’s flyweight contest came to an abrupt end in when he was disqualified for a third public warning in the fourth round. His opponent, Salomo N’tuve (Sweden), was also on two public warnings and the contest was tied 10-10 at the time.

Willie McLoughlin emerged as the most improved boxer in Ireland this year and can hold his head high despite his 7-2 loss to the experienced German, Jack Culcay-Keth, in a close welterweight contest.

John Joe Joyce, Ireland’s only Olympian in action here, will make his bid for a place in the quarter finals when he takes on Scottish light welterweight, John Thain.

Middleweight Eamonn O’Kane meets Adem Kiliggi (Turkey) and Clonmel heavyweight, Con Sheehan, has a tough assignment against Viktor Chvarkou (Belarus).

In Tuesday’s quarter finals, Ryan Lindberg meets Denis Makarov (Germany) and Ross Hickety meets Famil Suleymanov (Azerbaijan).

David Oliver Joyce and Olympic champion, Vasyl Lomachenko (Ukraine), touch gloves Wednesday.