Joe Joyce seals place in Olympic super-heavyweight final

19 August 2016 06:53

Joe Joyce will fight for super-heavyweight gold on Sunday after winning his semi-final against Kazakhstan's Ivan Dychko at Rio Centro.

Joyce poured on the punishment in the last two rounds to come from behind on the judges' cards and claim victory by a unanimous decision.

In the final Joyce will get the chance to avenge his controversial World Championship semi-final loss to Frenchman Tony Yoka, who came through the other semi-final via split decision.

Watched by reigning +91kg champion and former team-mate Anthony Joshua at ringside, Joyce made a slow start and was picked off by the more accurate Dychko in the first.

The Londoner continued pushing after his opponent in the second, enjoying more success, but still leaving himself worryingly open to accurate counters.

As the round progressed, he began to land much cleaner and heavier blows, and Dychko, blowing heavily, began to appear increasingly vulnerable.

The judges agreed, making the last round effectively a decider, and Joyce pushed forward hurling big right uppercuts as the Kazakh attempted vainly to cling on.

Joyce's fitness was really beginning to tell, bouncing in to deliver further punishment in sharp contrast to Dychko, whose work was increasingly laboured.

A left hand swatted the Kazakh's chin as Joyce finished things off in dominant style to earn the verdict on all three cards.

Source: PA