DOJ heads to Uzbekistan for crucial APB clash

As Irish boxing prepares to welcome home our women’s squad from the AIBA World Youth and Junior Championships in Taiwan through Dublin Airport today, another Irish boxer is flying East from Dublin Airport this morning.

Five-time Irish Elite champion David Oliver Joyce is heading to Uzbekistan with Irish coaches Billy Walsh and Zuar Antia for his crucial AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) clash on Friday.

The three-time European Union Elite champion meets Uzbek lightweight Hurshi Tajibaev in an Olympic qualifier in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. If Joyce beats the Beijing 2008 Olympian his next APB fight will be for a place at the Rio 2016 Olympics and the 2015 APB 60kg final.

Joyce will make his own piece of history in Uzbekistan this weekend as it will be the first time that an Irish boxer has competed over eight rounds.

Ireland chief seconds Billy Walsh said: “Yes, the eight rounds is a first for all of us.

“We’re flying out early to get over the long journey. It’s all about fine tuning now and going over the tactics and going through the drills.

“David is in top form and looking forward to the challenge.”

Brazil’s Robson Conceicao and Russia’s Dmitry Polyanskiy clash in the corresponding lightweight bout on Saturday.

Joe Ward will be in APB action versus French light-heavy Mathieu Bauderlique on June 5 at a host city to be confirmed.

Bauderlique has returned to APB from the pro ranks.

Ward, like his APB compatriot Joyce, is two wins away from booking a ticket for Rio 2016 and reaching the 2015 APB finals.