Congratulations to Head Coach Zaur Antia and his performance support team over the past week. David Oliver Joyce was the sixth Irish boxer to book his place at the Rio Olympics after he beat home favourite Volkan Gockek on points in Turkey earning a split decision after an excellent performance in his lightweight bout.
Joyce started well, and won the first round on two of the cards, but Gockek clawed his way back into the fight in the second with all three judges scoring him 10:9.
Joyce however produced the third round performance he needed in the final three minutes, ahead on all score cards.
The Athy fighter, who missed out on the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, dropped to his knees as the split decision was announced.
He joins Joe Ward, Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlan,and Steven Donnelly and Bendan Irvine in Rio.
Michael O’Reilly, Darren O’Neill and Katie Taylor will have the their next opportunity to qualify for Rio at next month’s World Championships.
