Joyce bows out at semi-final stage in Warsaw

Irish lightweight John Joe Joyce bowed out of the Feliks Stamm Senior Multi Nations in Poland at the semi final stage this morning after he lost out by a margin of five points to ex Polish Olympian Krzysztof Szot in Warsaw.

Joyce, from the St Michael's Athy club, was ahead after round one, level with the Pole at the end of round two, fell behind in round three, and despite a spirited performance in the final round was handed a 22-17 reversal after the final bell.

The 19-year-old was guaranteed at least bronze before this mornings last four showdown and the Director of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association's High Performance Unit was full of praise for the St Michael's Athy man.

Keegan also pointed out that the Polish tournament was the only Senior Multi Nations in four years in which Irish boxers failed to reach a final.

He said: "Johnny performed very well against Szot today especially when you consider that the Polish lad is a vastly experienced campaigner and the age difference between both boxers.

"Johnny boxed exceptionally well in his last sixteen and quarter finals wins against top class opposition and we are very pleased with his performances out here. This is the first senior Multi Nations in four years in which we failed to reach a final and that must be viewed in the context of the fact that we were missing two of our top boxers, Roy Sheehan and Ken Egan, as they are both injured.

"We are using Multi Nations tournaments to assess our squad and fine tune our preparations for Septembers world senior championships which will also act as an Olympic qualifier. Overall March has been a very good month for us as we won one gold, four silver and two bronze medals in the senior Multi Nations in Croatia and one bronze medal here.

"Our junior side also won four gold's and one silver medal in Lithuania and it has been a very positive start to what will be a very big year for us."

Joyce's exit brings Irelands interest in the Felikis Stamm tournament to a close. The Irish team will arrive home via Dublin Airport on Sunday.