Boxing: Brilliant Joyce only survivor for town
Brendan Joyce put in the performance of his career to be the only Northampton boxer to make it through the opening round of the NACYP championships.
In a belting contest Joyce overcame St Michael's ABC's Jake Robinson at Hinckley Football Club, but brother and Kings Heath ABC club-mate Michael suffered a shock defeat, while Far Cotton ABC's Lewis Crew and Bill Evans Academy's Charlie Gager and Tyler Milne all lost.
Kings Heath coach Arthur Daly was thrilled with Brendan Joyce's performance against Robinson, whose Derbyshire club St Michael's ABC has a reputation for producing top boxers.
"These two had been wanting to box each other for ages, so there was a bit of needle in it," said Daly.
"Brendan was excellent, it was his best performance so far. He had never boxed four rounds before but he didn't stop, neither of them did, it was a cracking contest.
"Brendan threw every shot in the book and dominated from start to finish."
Joyce, aged 17, won the 48kg-52kg class C contest with all five judges giving him the verdict and will box last year's ABA Junior Novice finalist Osman Hussain, of Cheshunt ABC, in the next round on Friday.
Brendan and club-mate Jimmy Singh had beaten Liam Hunt, of Pegasus ABC, but Michael Joyce went down 3-2 to the Derby boxer in their 54-57kg class C clash.
It was Joyce's first bout as a senior and the former Junior ABA champion was distraught to lose, but coach Daly feels the 18-year-old left it too late to drop weight for the championship.
Daly said: "He was fighting two opponents, the man in the opposite corner and the scales."
Joyce is now considering a move into the professional ranks, but Daly has implored him not to.
"It is only one defeat," said Daly. "He can come back from it. He is not ready to turn professional yet, at 18 there is plenty of time for him to turn professional. He should get another year's experience under his belt first, but in the end it is up to him."
Far Cotton ABC coach John Daly was pleased with the display of Wootton Fields 15-year-old Crew as he lost his 52kg and under class A bout 3-2 to South Normanton ABC's Alfie Greaves in his first championship bout.
"Lewis has had six bouts and Greaves has had 26," said Daly. "Lewis
boxed really well and he is definitely one for the future."
In the class A 54-57kg weight Bill Evans Academy's Milne lost to Cheshunt ABC's John French in a majority decision in his first bout for a year.
Club-mate Gager lost a majority verdict to Lee Mills, of Kettering School of Boxing, in the class A at 60kg division.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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