Ireland’s injury jinx is beginning to take its toll ahead of the opening bell for the AIBA World Youth Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, next Sunday.
St Michael's Athy welterweight Christy Joyce yesterday became the second Irish boxer in four days to withdraw from the tournament after picking up a nose injury.
Dublin bantamweight Glen Holmes withdrew last Saturday after suffering a similar injury while sparring with Cuba and the Ukraine in Baku.
Irish coach Jim Moore confirmed that Joyce was out and that the Irish squad, who are in training camp with the hosts as well as Cuba, Ukraine and Turkey in Baku, is now down five.
Ireland, who have been in Baku for over a week, will have their last sparring session with Turkey on 21 April ahead of the start of the Championships in Baku on Sunday.
The World Youth Championships will act as the only qualifier for the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore in August. Boxers reaching the semi-finals in Baku will qualify for Singapore.
In other news, the USA have announced that they have withdrawn from the tournament because of safety concerns relating to the volcanic ash cloud floating over Europe.
Ireland squad for AIBA World Youth Championships:
48kg: Ryan Burnett: Holy Family
51kg: Chris Phelan: Ryston
54kg: Glen Holmes: Corinthians
60kg: Michael O'Reilly: Portlaoise
64kg: Christy Joyce: St Michael's Athy
69kg: Chris Blaney: Navan
75kg: Joe Ward: Moate
Joyce out of World Youth Boxing Championships
