Joyce Against The Great Jim McCourt

A courageous display by Conisbrough’s Tommy Joyce just failed to get a points decision over Jim McCourt, of Ireland, in Friday night’s televised international boxing match between Scotland and Ireland.

McCourt, one of the most experienced amateur boxers in Europe, look to have a tough handful right from the first bell, and it was only when he put the 19-year-old down in the third round for a compulsory count of eight that the Irishman appeared to have got the decision. But even then it was closed – one of the judges failing to give him his vote to McCourt.

Ovation

The gallant performance by Scottish born Joyce earned a great round of applause from the audience especially as McCourt – Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist – had not been beaten in this country.

In fact the Irish boy was described by commentator Harry Carpenter as “one of the foremost amateur boxers in the world.”

There didn’t appear to be a whisker between the two in the first round as Joyce’s right was kept jabbing like a piston, but in the second round the Irishman was the more accurate puncher. It was a good right hand from McCourt which put Joyce down in the third and this must have swayed the verdict in favour of the Irishman.

Brief show

After the match, Carpenter said this has been a very brave show indeed for Tommy Joyce and a wonderful performance from McCourt. There aren’t very many better in the world than Jim McCourt at light welter weight.”

Joyce had won both his previous international bouts for Scotland – the first against South Africa in September.