‘Triple J’ overjoyed as national title secured

JOHN JOE JOYCE (St Michael’s, Athy) was celebrating his move up to welterweight with another national title at the National Stadium last night but the defending champion, Willie McLaughlin (Illies GG, Donegal), was scratching his head on the wrong side of a 12-9 verdict.

“This was better than the Olympics,” Joyce insisted. “I boxed in the Olympics and I did not feel half as good as I feel now. Last year I lost. I had weight problems – I was struggling with the weight – I had problems outside the ring and I had problems inside the ring and I did not enjoy it.

“I had the pressure of the Olympics and the Europeans hanging over me and then the weight problem. I just was not enjoying my boxing.