John Joyce brushes off criticism ahead of overseas mission

John Joyce [7(4)-0] will be shipping out to Boston with a massive smile on his face unperturbed how his domestic rivals feel about his trip across the Atlantic.

Things got real last night with the release of the poster for the Lucan welter’s clash with Cork’s Noely Murphy at the House of Blues in Boston on Saturday March 16th.

The eight-round fight, which plays out on the Murphys Boxing St Patrick’s Clash IV card, is ‘huge’ both personally and career-wise for Joyce.

While there can’t be any real criticism about a fight between two Irish prospects, there are some teams from a packed welterweight division, and indeed small hall fans, that were not happy to hear the Dubliner state he wanted to fight abroad before even considering any domestic clashes.

It’s criticism the 31-year=old has heard, but criticism he chooses not to listen to.

Indeed, Joyce is so happy to be in a meaningful fight in Boston that nothing could hinder his positive mood.

“I don’t care what anyone thinks,” he told Irish-Boxing.com.

“I am the one that fights. I am the one that has to do it not them. So let them cry and complain all the want, I don’t care. I am fighting and doing what I want to do not what they want to do.”

“I am getting a big fight in Boston, a fight I wanted, not a fight in Dublin where I’d have to go sell tickets to make money.”

While he won’t have the ticket-selling pressures involved with fighting at home on a small hall card, there is more to the bout with the Macroom puncher than money for Joyce.

There is a real excitement to ‘The Demogorgon’ and he claims he finds the whole thing ‘surreal’.

“This is massive. It’s way more than I ever thought I’d get to be honest. When I first started out I didn’t think I’d have as many fights as I have had now.”

“It’s a bit surreal to be going to Boston. It’s crazy, even my wife keeps saying it,” he added before addressing the prospect of fighting on one of the crazy House of Blues shows

“It didn’t matter how many people are at it or whatever it’s the fact it is in Boston and fighting outside Ireland is massive – it could have been in a community centre for all I cared! It’s huge. I am so excited about it.

While there is a real sense of occasion and even achievement for the late-to-the-game come-forward slugger, there is still a fight to be won.

Joyce faces tough opposition in Murphy, whose only defeater challenges for a world title next month, but he knows victory could open all manner of doors.

“This is my world title fight,” proclaimed the Irish Army corporal. “I don’t know whats going to happen tomorrow I am not getting any younger. This is like my world title fight.”