Joyce to face Kharabadzs in Euro Youth Semi today
Irish welterweight John Joyce will meet Georgia’s Giorgi Kharabadzs in the semi-finals of the 24th European Youth Championships in Zagreb, Croatia this afternoon.
The bout is the 5th contest on the evening program which begins at 5pm (Irish time). Click here for semi-final program.
Joyce, the current European Junior champion and an ex European Schoolboy champion, is the only Irish boxer left in the tournament. He’s guaranteed to be taking home at least bronze from Zagreb.
Kharabadzs lost in the last-16 at the AIBA 2014 World Youth Championships to eventual gold medallist Bektemir Melikuziyev (Uzbekistan). The Georgian welter received a wild card entry to the 2014 Youth Olympics, but lost both of his bouts in China. Kharabadzs won European Junior gold (at 66kg) on the same day as Joyce (at 63kg) in Anapa, Russia last year.
The 2014 European Youth finals will be held tomorrow. The Irish squad are due to arrive home via Dublin Airport at 9pm on Sunday evening.
European Youth Championships 2014 Zagreb, Croatia
October 18th (Preliminaries)
52kg Willie Donoghue (Ireland) beat Sebastigan Sacrici (Serbia) 3-0
60kg James Cleary (Ireland) beat Asefi Soldimann (Germany) 3-0
71kg Fergus Quinn (Ireland) beat Bence Papi (Hungary) 3-0
October 19th (last 32)
56kg Francis Cleary (Ireland) beat Katin Arsenov (Bulgaria) 2-1
69kg John Joyce (Ireland) beat Ogulcan Ozturk (Turkey) 3-0
81kg Cormac Long (Ireland) lost to Algirdas Daniulus (Lithuania) 0-3
91kg James Hughes (Ireland) beat Alexsander Ceiejewski (Poland) 3-0
October 20th (last 16)
60kg James Cleary (Ireland) beat Marsel Tertejyan (Denmark) 3-0
75kg Fergus Quinn (Ireland) lost to Viktar Dziushkevich (Belarus) 0-3
91kg James Hughes (Ireland) lost to Muhammed Baki Yalcin (Turkey) 0-3
October 21st (last 16)
52kg Willie Donoghue (Ireland) beat Yanardag Ugurcan (Turkey) 3-0
56kg Francis Cleary (Ireland) lost to Rexhildo Zeneli (Albania) 0-3
64kg Gary Cully (Ireland) beat Matej Simec (Croatia) 3-0
69kg John Joyce (Ireland) beat Peter George (Scotland) W/O
October 22nd
Q/Finals
49kg Darryl Moran (Ireland) lost to Niall Farrell (England) 1-2
52kg Willie Donoghue (Ireland) lost to Dan Asenov (Bulgaria) 0-3
60kg James Cleary (Ireland) lost to Maxim Krivisov (Russia) 1-2
64kg Gary Cully (Ireland) lost to Denys Pesotsky (Ukraine) 0-3
69kg John Joyce (Ireland) beat Luka Prtenjaca (Croatia) W/O
(Irish times apply)
October 24th
S/Finals
69kg John Joyce (Ireland) v Giorgi Kharabadzs (Georgia)
Irish squad
49kg Darryl Moran (Illies GG)
52kg Willie Donoghue (St Michael’s Athy)
56kg Francis Cleary (Olympic)
60kg James Cleary (Olympics)
64kg Gary Cully (St David’s)
69kg John Joyce (St Michael’s Athy) (Bronze – at least)
75kg Fergus Quinn (Camlough)
81kg Cormac Long (Rathkeale)
91kg James Hughes (Ryston)
Team manager: Sean Canavan
Coaches: Jim O’Neill and Tom Hayes
Physio: Owen Naughton
R&J Dermot McDermot
