David Oliver Joyce takes Best Boxer Award at Nationals
05 Feb 2007
February 3rd.
IRISH AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION "National Senior Finals"
FEATHERWEIGHT David Oliver Joyce handed the Irish Amateur Boxing Association an ideal selection headache at the Daily Star sponsored 2007 National Senior Championships which concluded at the Stadium in Dublin last night.
Joyce dethroned his St Michaels Athy team-mate Eric Donovan and to cap a memorable for the 19 year old he also took home the Presidents Cup after being selected as the boxer of the Championships.
Joyce, who moved up a weight following last years Bantamweight triumph, took all four high tempo rounds against the defending champ to record a convincing victory.
Last evenings wins means that Joyce, along with all the other senior champions, has staked his claim to be included in the Irish squad moving forward toward the Olympic qualifiers in Moscow next Autumn.
Donovan meanwhile, admitted after the fight that he was disappointed with his performance, but he was quick to praise his St Michael's team-mate.
He said "It was a fantastic performance by David and the better man won. But I am a competitor and I will be back."
Belfast Ryan Lindberg claimed the vacant Bantamweight crown after a seesaw four rounder versus Kevin Fennessey from Clonmel
Fenessey was ahead by one point going into the final round of this 54Kg decider but a public warning in the 4th tipped the balance in favour of Ulster Senor champion.
Light heavyweight Ken Egan, who was targeting his 7th National Senior title on the trot since the turn of the century (two of those titles were won at middleweight) was next into the ring and he wasted little time getting back down to business forcing Willie Mitchell into a standing count inside the first minute.
Mitchell then found himself on the ropes on the receiving end of a flurry of punches and the ref stopped the contest with just over one minute gone.
World and back-to-back champ Katie Taylor received a heroines reception on her return to the Stadium to meet Eva Walstrom in a special contest.
And the Bray women confirmed her status as the worlds number one lightweight with a comfortable win over the Finnish puncher who is ranked 3rd in the world.
The St Fergal's ace, whose dad and coach Peter was in her corner, took all three rounds in this contest and finishing with a flourish in the third and final round to chalk up her third victory over Walstrom since beating her in the 2005 European final in Norway and the last 16 of the World Championships in New Delhi last November.
Middleweight Darren Sutherland forced Eamon O'Kane into two standing counts in the third en route to claiming his second title on the trot courtesy of a third round stoppage.
The DCU Sports Science student suffered a serious eye injury last year but he is now back with a vengeance and is looking ahead to next Septembers world championships in Moscow which will act as a qualifier for the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
"Sutherland admitted: "It is like a weight has been lifted off my shoulder. I am so happy to be back as last year was a low for me because of the injury I received. But I am now looking ahead to what will be a very busy year.
"In last weekends semi final I came out with all guns blazing but I couldn't afford to do that against Eamon as he is a very experienced boxer. I am thrilled with to have retained my title."
Defending champion Roy Sheahan, met his St Michael's Athy club-mate David Joyce in the welterweight final and chalked up 12-5 victory twelve months after beating the same opponent 12-8.
Sheahan was moving very smoothly throughout this fight and it was an impressive display from the 22 year old.
Meanwhile, lightweight John Joe Joyce ensured it was a St Michael's Athy hat-trick with a 29-12 victory over Ciaran Bates. Joyce was always on top and produced some very skilful work in the third before consolidating his win in the final round.
St Matthews heavyweight Ian Timms, and Donegal's John Sweeney were involved in a top class four rounder which Timms took despite conceding points after receiving a public warning in the 4th.
Golden Cobra ace Aodh Carlyle was taken right down to the wire by Thomas Dwyer before being handed a slender 5-4 victory.
Heavyweight Cathal McMonagle was behind in the first three rounds but pulled out all the stops in the fourth to clinch victory over Anthony Crampton after a pulsating four rounds.
McMonagles coach Harry Hawkins, who was in Bernard Dunne's corner when he outclassed Esham Pickering to land European Super Bantamweight title at the Point in Dublin last year, said they were thrilled.
"Both boxers deserve enormous credit for a great contest and we are thrilled with this win. It was close all the way through the fight and Cathal knew he had a great chance going into the final round and he took it."
Light flyweights Jimmy Moore and Paddy Barnes renewed acquaintances in the 48kg final twelve months after Moore edge out the Belfast man in the 2006 decider. But this time out Barnes was the winner taking all four rounds against the Limerick boxer.
Boxing greats Gerry Storey, Billy Walsh and Kieran Joyce were honoured for their services to the sport at last nights finals.
Speaking after the tournament, Irish Amateur Boxing Association President Dominic O'Rourke described the 2007 Senior Championships as one of the best ever.
He said: "I would like to thank everyone concerned for making the 2007 National Senior Championships a top class tournament. It was definitely one the best senior finals night in the last ten years and a great advertisement for Irish amateur boxing."
2007 National Senior Boxing Championships Finals Results (Scores from the end of each round in brackets)
54Kg: Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata) beat Kevin Joseph Fennessey (Clonmel) 19-18. (2-4,7-8.13-14. 19-18)
69Kg: Roy Sheahan (St Michael's Athy) beat David Joyce (St Michael's Athy) (2-1, 6-2,8-3,12-5)
81Kg: Ken Egan (Neilstown) beat Williie Mitchell (Dromore, Tyrone) (RSC1)
Special Contest: Katie Taylor (Ireland) Eva Walstrom (Finland) 20-4, (7-2.13-3,20-4)