Elite National
Senior Championships
By Bernard O'Neill
February 5, 2009
(FEB 5) Defending champion John Joe Joyce
believes that he will have his work cut out at the eagerly anticipated
Irish Daily Star sponsored 2009 Elite National Senior Championships.
The opening bell for the Championships will toll at the National Stadium
in Dublin this Friday night (February 6th). And some of the best
young boxers in the World and Europe will be chasing Joyce's light
welterweight crown at the South Circular Road venue.
Joyce, nicknamed triple J, will be targeting his fourth Irish senior
title on the trot at IABA headquarters - but the 2008 Olympian has
admitted that he's been impressed with Crumlin team-mates Jamie Kavanagh
and Philip Sutcliffe.
Kavanagh claimed a silver medal at the AIBA World Youth Championships in
Mexico last year, and according to Joyce,
of the St Michael's Athy, you'll always know you've been in a bout if
you step into the ring with Sutcliffe.
He said: "Jamie Kavanagh did very well for himself last year and to win
a silver medal at the World Youth Championships was a fantastic
achievement by any standards, so fair play to him.
"Philip Sutcliffe is another that is a threat, as is Niall McGinley and
a few others, so I'm going to have my work cut out trying to retain my
title.
"It is tough getting to the top in Irish senior boxing and once you get
there you will always have to box to your full potential to stay there,
otherwise you'll be taken out."
Twenty one year old Joyce suffered mixed fortunes last year. During the
Olympic Games he was agonizingly edged out on a count-back by eventual
gold medalist Felix Diaz of the Dominican Republic.
But he bounced back from that heartbreak to claim bronze at the European
Championships in Liverpool. However, his Irish senior crown will always
be his first port of call.
He added: "There is no point me looking ahead to the World Championships
in Milan next September because if I don't win at the Irish Senior
Championships I won't even be on the team.
"That is why the Irish Senior Championships are absolutely crucial to
me. Everything starts with Irish Seniors and there is no
point looking too far ahead."
The weigh-in for the 2009 Elite National Senior Championships will be
held at the National Stadium this Friday between 8am and 11am with the
draw to follow.
Reigning Champions
48kg - Paddy Barnes
51kg - Shane Cox
54kg - John Joe Nevin
57kg - David Oliver Joyce
60kg - Ross Hickey
64kg - John Joe Joyce
69kg - Roy Sheehan
75kg - Vacant (2008 champion - Darren Sutherland)
81kg - Kenny Egan
91kg - Con Sheehan
91+ kg - Cathal McMonagle
