Joyce brings another boxing title to Moate

Another European title has been won by a Moate boxer - with John Joyce claiming gold at the European Schoolboy Championships following a magnificent light-flyweight victory over Miroslav Peshkov of Russia in Grozny, Russia, last Saturday. The Moate Boxing Club member finished on top of the podium following a 3-2 decision over the Russian in the 48kg final. Joyce and Peshkov shared the first frame 0-0. However, Joyce took the second 2-1 and drew the third 1-1 en route to an historic gold medal. Last Saturday's win arrives one year after Joyce was denied a place in the 2010 European Schoolboy Championships final following a highly controversial 1-0 'loss' to Ivan Dubovik of Russia in Yambol, Bulgaria. Joyce, the clear winner of that contest in the eyes of most observers, was subsequently presented with the boxer of the tournament award. It is highly unusual for a bronze medal winner to be awarded the 'boxer of the tournament' award - and this decision reflected the disquiet over the verdict in Joyce's semi-final bout with Dubovik. Speaking directly after the 2010 semi-final, Joyce, showing remarkable maturity for such a young man, wished Dubovik the best of luck in the final and vowed that he'd be back to win gold at the 2011 European Schoolboy Championships. The Moate teenager remained true to his word and now has the distinction of having won gold and bronze - and the boxer of the tournament award - at the 2010 and 2011 European Schoolboy Championships. The 13-year-old from Ballycumber Road, Moate, is the first Irish boxer to win two European Schoolboy medals. Also a talented Gaelic footballer, John won a Westmeath Cumann na mBunscoil medal with St Oliver Plunkett's Boys NS during his time at the Moate school. John's boxing success in Russia comes just a few weeks after his first cousin Joe Ward won gold at the European Senior Championships in Turkey. The European Schoolboy gold medal is the only medal which has eluded Ward during his meteoric rise up the boxing ranks - he was beaten in the 2007 final in Portsmouth. Last weekend's win for young Joyce has capped what has been an historic summer for Moate Boxing Club. In June, 17-year-old AIBA World Youth champion Joe Ward of Moate BC became one of the youngest gold medal winners in the history of the European Senior Championships after winning the light-heavyweight title in Ankara, Turkey. At this year's European Schoolboy Championships, Galway's James Cleary and Matthew Burke had to settle for a silver medal each after losing out to Russia's Gabriel Muzaev and Arthur Germanovich respectively, despite brave performances in the 44.5kg and 76kg finals. Ireland took home one gold, two silver and five bronze medals from Grozny. Joyce, Cleary, Burke, Craig Bonney, Lewis Crocker, Sean Conroy, Keelan Sexton and Tiernan Bradley finished in podium positions. The rest of the 18-strong squad also played their part in what has been another very successful European venture for Irish boxing.