Read morEIonut Baluta Shocks David Oliver Joyce, Stops Him in Three
Ionut Baluta threw hard shots and plenty of them as he upset David Oliver Joyce, stopping the Irish prospect in the third round of their super-bantamweight ten-rounder on the Josh Taylor-Apinun Khongsong undercard at the York Hall in East London.
Baluta, a Romanian based in Spain, completely overwhelmed Joyce, finding the former amateur star a surprisingly easy target. Baluta started fast in the opening round, winging in big hooks, and throwing Joyce off his stride. Joyce came back in the first round well, but Baluta began the second round as if he had a train to catch, trapping Joyce in a corner and unloading. Joyce tried to tuck up, but was caught repeatedly and seemed incapable of getting out of the way of the punches. At the end of the round, Baluta wound up three big right hooks, all of which landed.
Joyce, who ended the career of former world champion Lee Haskins in February, was told to show a bit more urgency in the third and began the round by forcing Baulta back. But the Romanian was still throwing and unleashed a huge left hook, which dropped Joyce on his back.
The Irishman beat the count, but Baluta went for the finish, trapping Joyce and unloading until Steve Gray, the referee, intervened at 1:49 of the round.
Bob Williams, Michael Alexander and Phil Edwards were the judges. Joyce was defending his WBO “European” belt.
boxinscene.com
