Triple J through to the next round of the EU’s

August 8, 2014August 8, 2014 irishboxing

John Joe Joyce showed his skill and experience to progress to the last-eight of the European Union Men’s Elite Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria today.

But Gary McKenna is out of the tournament after dropping a unanimous decision to Veaceslav Gojan of Moldova.

Beijing Olympian Joyce, nicknamed “Triple J”, was involved in a tough three-rounder against Damian Kiwior.

The durable Polish welterweight kept going to the final bell, but Joyce’s greater shot selection and ring craft, particularly when any distance opened up between the duo, deservedly earned the St Michael’s Athy man a unanimous decision (30-27,29-28,30-27).

He’ll now meet Bulgaria’s Simeon Chamov, who encountered little enough by way of resistance against Turkey’s Huseyin Karslioglu today, in the quarter-finals.

McKenna’s raking left jab looked as if it might cause Gojan problems this afternoon, but the Moldovan, who was giving away a height and reach advantage, repeatedly stepped inside McKenna’s jab to deliver body and head shots en route to a 30-26,30-27,30-26 verdict.

McKenna and Joyce were the only two Irish boxers in action today.

Dean Walsh and Darren O’Neill will be between the ropes tomorrow.

European Union Championships Sofia, Bulgaria

(Last 16 bouts unless stated, Irish times apply)

August 8th (1pm)

56kg Gary McKenna (Ireland) lost to Veaceslav Gojan (Moldova) 0-3

69kg John Joe Joyce (Ireland) beat Damian Kiwior (Poland) 3-0

August 9th

64kg Dean Walsh (Ireland) v Malik Ladjali (France)

81kg Darren O’Neill (Ireland) v Jordan Kulinski (Poland)

August 10th

60kg David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) v Mahmoud Khattab (Denmark)

91kg Gary Sweeney (Ireland) v Tadas Tamasavkas (Lithuania)

August 11th

75kg Michael O’Reilly (Ireland) v Henrich Bagan (Slovakia)

91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) v Kristiyan Stefanov (Bulgaria)

August 12th (Q/Final)

49kg Hughie Myers (Ireland) Oliver Simpson (England)

69kg John Joe Joyce (Ireland) v Simeon Chamov (Bulgaria)

Irish squad
49kg Hughie Myers (Ryston)
56kg Gary McKenna (Old School)
60kg David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy)
64kg Dean Walsh (St Joesphs/St Ibars)
69kg John Joe Joyce (St Michael’s Athy)
75kg Michael O’Reilly (Portlaoise)
81kg Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)
91kg Gary Sweeney (Olympic)
91+kg Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)
Team manager: Paddy Osbourne
Coaches: Billy Walsh, Zuar Antia, Eddie Bolger
R&J: Sadie Duffy
Physio: Jullianne Ryan

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