Joyce bows out to classy Lomachenko
But Joyce departed happy in the knowledge he could not have done any more against the lightning fast featherweight Olympic champion.
The verdict, however, did not do justice to the Irishman’s contribution — the first two points coming from punches that clearly landed on Joyce’s gloves and another coming from a low body shot for which the Norwegian referee gave Lomachenko a caution.
But there was no doubt about one body shot — a vicious right hook to the rib cage — that put Joyce on his knees in the fourth round and for which Lomachenko did not get a point.
“That was a good, solid body shot to the ribs,” said Irish coach Billy Walsh. “David Oliver has not been on the floor too often. He is normally the one who puts guys on the carpet. That was a real, good shot.”
At that point, however, victory was out of sight for Joyce. It began to drift away from him early in the first round when he elected to box from behind a high guard — emerging for two-fisted onslaughts that were taken by Lomachenko on the arms and gloves.
Lomachenko, too, had difficulty breaking down Joyce’s defence. When vicious combinations to the head failed to yield a result he went to work on the body but the two points that came his way appeared to have been parried by Joyce.
They gave him a two point lead going into the second round and the Ukrainian picked up another at the start of the round from a shot that Joyce appeared to have taken on his gloves. Then his fourth point came from a body shot that the referee deemed to be a low blow but it gave him a 4-0 lead at the halfway point.
“Maybe Davy showed him a bit too much respect early on,” Billy Walsh said. “That allowed his man to get a lead and when that happens it is very difficult to claw it back against such a quality opponent.”
Joyce went after his man in the third round, turning him on to the ropes and trying to pin him down but, each time, Lomachenko boxed his way clear — scored another point from behind a tight defence and it was the end of the round before Joyce got his first point.
Joyce continued to hunt him down in the fourth round but now Lomachenko was picking him off as he came in. Joyce eventually caught the eye of the judges but almost immediately Lomachenko put him on his knees.
“Davy is very disappointed but Lomachenko is one of the best boxers in the world pound for pound and I have no doubt in saying he will emerge as the best boxer at those championships,” said Walsh.
“Davy tried to close him down but that was always going to be difficult because he is very fast — very elusive. David felt he gave it everything.”
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