John Joyce puts Keane McMahon fight on ice – something “huge” in the pipeline

Fighting Keane McMahon [4(1)-0] is not on John Joyce’s [6(3)-0] immediate ‘to do’ list.

McMahon believes he is next in line for the BUI Celtic title currently held by Jay Byrne and expects the champion to vacate to enable him to challenge – although Byrne has said he will only free the title up if he is guaranteed an Irish title fight with the winner.

‘The Iceman’ recently told Irish-Boxing.com that he is confident of fighting for the title on the yet to be officially confirmed ‘Celtic Clash 7’ card and wanted to please fans by trading leather with Joyce.

‘The Iceman’ stressed there was no bad blood between him and a fighter he often trains alongside in the Celtic Warriors Gym, but argued that a relatively high-profile domestic dust-up with the punching solider would prove more fan-friendly than a clash with an import.

However, Joyce claims he has other plans and they don’t include fighting his fellow Dublin welter this Autumn.

The Lucan native, who is often keen to stress he follows the orders of his manager and trainer Tony Davitt, has revealed that he has something ‘huge’ in the pipeline and has informed McMahon that he may have to wait until next year.

Joyce stresses he will be gunning for the Irish title this time next year and will then be open to fighting the champion, whoever that may be.

“It’s not a fight Tony and myself want right now,” Joyce said in response to McMahon’s Irish-Boxing.com interview. 

“We have a plan set out and have something huge for me in the pipeline so the local fight isn’t what I am after at the moment, but 100% by this time next year I want to fight for an Irish title, not a Celtic title.”

“Whoever has it, either Jay or Keanem I’ll definitely want to fight them for it. I wish both lads the best of luck in whatever they decide to do.”

These huge plans for Joyce will begin on Saturday October 6th, with the Dubliner having been this morning confirmed for the Assassin Boxing ‘Rise Again’ show at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)