Joyce top of the bill for Millstreet show

BIG-TIME boxing returns to the Green Glens Arena in Millstreet on December 10 when Rylane Boxing Club combine with the Garda Boxing Club to stage a show that will be built around the annual visit of the NYPD to box a Garda selection.

It was at the Green Glens that Steve Collins stripped Chris Eubank of his WBO world super middleweight title and, after confirming his superiority over the former champion at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, the Dubliner subsequently defended his crown back in Millstreet.

Subsequent to that Rylane BC staged a stunning sell-out amateur show at the Green Glens where last minute alterations had to be made to accommodate the overflow of fans. That night a star-studded bill featured 1996 Atlanta Olympian, Francis Barrett.

This time the bill feature 2008 Olympian John Joe Joyce amongst others. Joyce, who has since moved up to welterweight to share the national senior title with his St. Michael’s, Athy clubmate Roy Sheahan, and Adam Nolan.

Nolan, the current champion and a member of the Garda team, boxes out of the Bray club where he trains alongside the three-time world champion Katie Taylor, under her father, Pete.

Roy Sheahan, three time national senior champion, went to this year’s World Championships with victories over both Nolan and John Joe Joyce under his belt so there will be a huge interest in who will meet who in Millstreet.

“This tournament will be bigger than our last amateur show in the Green Glens,” Dan Lane insisted yesterday. “Larry Morrison of the Garda Club and myself still have a lot of detail to iron out but it will be a spectacular show.

“The centrepiece will be the visit of the NYPD. We have a relationship with them stretching back seven years now and we have a sell out show in Manhattan every year as part of the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in New York. This year they will also be bringing over two female boxers.”

Rylane promote a number of amateur shows and in the past have promoted big tournaments like the Four Nations tournament in Killarney as well as a multi-nations tournament at the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork some years ago.