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Olympian Joyce and three fellow unbeaten Irish prospects added to stacked Frampton bill

David Oliver Joyce, Lewis Crocker, Steven Ward and Tyrone McCullagh join a host of Irish fighters on the undercard to Frampton-Donaire.

IRISH OLYMPIAN DAVID Oliver Joyce will fight on the undercard of Carl Frampton’s feverishly anticipated crossroads bout with Nonito Donaire at Belfast’s SSE Arena on 21 April.

The popular Mullingar lightweight will first take to the ring at SK Promotions’ Collision Course bill at Dublin’s Citywest Hotel on 5 February before gearing up for a slot on what’s likely to be the biggest professional boxing bill ever to take place on these shores.

Joyce, 5-0(4KOs), has fought four times in Belfast as a pro, and holds three victories over Frampton as an amateur, with ‘The Jackal’ having bested him just once in the unpaid ranks.

The Rio Olympian has sparred two-weight world champion Frampton on countless occasions since the Tiger’s Bay featherweight turned professional in 2009, including in the lead-up to Frampton’s comeback bout with Horacio Garcia in November.

Future star Lewis Crocker will also feature on the bill in what will be a fifth professional contest for the nuclear-fisted hometown hero.

The recently-turned 21-year-old featured as one of The42′s three hottest Irish pro boxing prospects earlier this week, and counts Frampton as one of his greatest admirers.

After four fights since turning pro in 2017, welterweight Crocker is yet to see the third round as a professional and boasts three first-round stoppages from his four wins.

‘Croc’ is joined on the card by 6-0(2KOs) light-heavyweight Steven Ward, with whom he shares a hometown, as well as Derry featherweight Tyrone McCullagh, who’ll be heading up the A6 in search of his 10th professional victory. ‘White Chocolate’ already has six stoppages on his CV – most notably that of previously-unbeaten German Tom Tran, whom McCullagh took out inside five last month.

Lewis Crocker celebrates his victory Viva La Croc: Lewis Crocker returns to the ring in his hometown on 28 April Presseye / William Cherry/INPHO Presseye / William Cherry/INPHO / William Cherry/INPHO

Joining the undefeated Irish contingent are three equally blemishless Brits, all of whom are MTK Global stablemates of Joyce, Crocker, Ward and McCullagh: Darlington middleweight Troy Williamson (5-0, 3KOs), Liverpudlian light-welterweight Sam Maxwell (5-0, 4KOs) and the latter’s fellow Merseysider Alex Dickinson (3-0, 2KOs) – a heavyweight – will all take to the squared circle in Belfast.

Three tantalising all-Irish contests – Luke Keeler vs Conrad Cummings, Jono Carroll vs Marco McCullough and Tyrone McKenna vs Phil Sutcliffe Jr – were last week confirmed for the same bill.

‘Croc’, ‘The Silencer’, and ‘The Naas Tommy Hearns’: Irish pro boxing’s future is in concrete hands

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    Mute Limón Madrugada
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    May 21st 2018, 12:58 PM

    Comments on Spanish radio are focussing on the choice of Monreal over Marcos Alonso and the absence of Morata ( which was quite expected ) .. there’s not much else being commented , maybe the absence of Marc Bartra at the back that’s about it .

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    Mute Paul Mallon
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    May 21st 2018, 1:06 PM

    @Limón Madrugada: by Spanish standards, an average enough team. Weak at Centre half as pique is shocking.

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    Mute Limón Madrugada
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    May 21st 2018, 1:38 PM

    @Paul Mallon: well ever since Puyol retired the defense has been weaker but it’s still handy enough . Carvajal is as good a right back as they’ve had ever , Nacho is very reliable and plays across the defence , Azpilicueta can do similarly . Haven’t seen Monreal play in ages myself . It the midfield of course that is so overloaded .

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    Mute Paul Mallon
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    May 21st 2018, 2:02 PM

    @Limón Madrugada: agreed plenty of options in midfield, azilipucueta hasn’t been picked though which is strange. Also they don’t have huge goals in the forwards, costa has his attributes but not exactly prolific. Can’t see Spain winning it.

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    Mute Limón Madrugada
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    May 21st 2018, 2:41 PM

    @Paul Mallon: azpilicueta has been picked .

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    Mute Mick lally
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    May 22nd 2018, 6:19 AM

    @Limón Madrugada: surprised he only took 3 forwards, Puyol was always gonna be irreplaceable, in saying that it’s a handy enough defense although Monreal??? Surely there is a better left back in Spain. My “Dark Horses” this year. They could go under the radar.

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    Mute Brian Connolly
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    May 21st 2018, 12:43 PM

    Not entirely confident in the defence but I think 6/1 is a huge price on them to win it

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    Mute Shane Russell
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    May 21st 2018, 1:05 PM

    @Brian Connolly:

    Carvajal, pique, Ramos and alba.

    Seriously?

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    Mute Brian Connolly
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    May 21st 2018, 1:34 PM

    @Shane Russell: Ramos is always capable of doing something daft and pique isn’t the player he was in 2010, also never been a huge fan of alba defensively and azpilicueta is surely a better defender than carvajal

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    Mute Johnny Bravo
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    May 21st 2018, 4:13 PM

    @Brian Connolly: plus they don’t speak to one another

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    Mute Conor Houlihan
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    May 21st 2018, 1:10 PM

    Where is Marcos Alonso?

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    Mute Declan Snow
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    May 21st 2018, 2:53 PM

    @Conor Houlihan: in fairness he has 1 cap for Spain that he won in a friendly only a few months ago. Only played 11 mins or so after coming on as a sub. Looking at that it’s hardly a surprise that he wasn’t picked.

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    Mute Alan Quinn
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    May 21st 2018, 12:33 PM

    Ridiculous midfield as usual

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    Mute Zossima
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    May 21st 2018, 12:31 PM

    Id like some Nachos now

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    Mute mossy lyons
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    May 21st 2018, 1:42 PM

    No azpilucueta… strange cos he can play both full back positions and a central defender if ur playing a back three.. class defender too of course

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    Mute al
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    May 21st 2018, 1:56 PM

    @mossy lyons: Dave is there, 42 just forgot to put him in. Check the official tweet with the picture and you’ll find him.

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    Mute Shane Kelly
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    May 21st 2018, 1:57 PM

    @mossy lyons: Azpilucueta is in the squad.

    The Journal just left them out of Spain’s 22 man squad.

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    Mute paul kelly
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    May 21st 2018, 1:59 PM

    Weak squad

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