Double delight for stylish Donovan

ERIC DONOVAN (St. Michael’s, Athy) produced one of the best ever performances to outpoint his clubmate, David Oliver Joyce, 17-10 and retain his lightweight title when the National senior boxing championships concluded at the National Stadium on Saturday night.

Donovan, who was voted Best Boxer of the Tournament, took an early lead and had enough in hand to hold off Joyce who won titles at bantamweight and featherweight before moving up to lightweight.

The defending champion did not wait around in his bid to exact revenge for the final three years ago when Joyce stripped him of his featherweight title. He forced the Mullingar man to take a standing count from a big left hook to the top of the head and then came out best in the toe to toe punch-up that followed, picking up points from some swift multi-punch combinations to win the opening round 11-2.