Kieran Joyce - Cork's 'Boxer of the Century' - Part 1

Kieran Joyce was named as Cork’s Boxer of the Century in 2014. A product of the Sunnyside Boxing Club, he boxed for Ireland at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games and is fondly remembered by fans as arguably the most exciting boxer to ever grace the National Stadium. The Rocky Road visited Kieran at his home to hear his story: developing his strength early by working in the family coal business, coming from a family of 12 – six boys and six girls – and learning how to scrap, working under the great Albie Murphy and finding success, and meaning, in the boxing ring. Part 1 of Kieran’s story brings us right up to Los Angeles 1984, where he’d gone with one clear goal – to bring back gold to Fairhill in Cork. At that stage he was a two-time Irish senior champ (he’d ultimately win six in a row) and a European bronze medallist. He was throwing opponents around the ring like bags of coal. The Russians and Cubans were boycotting but there was a young American dangerman in his welterweight division by the name of Mark Breland. Joyce had no fear – let me at them, he said. But then, he met his match, and not for the last time: amateur boxing judges bearing split decisions.

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