Joyce, 30, was beaten by Tony Yoka, most would argue wrongly on the scorecards after throwing nearly triple the amount of punches and landing double over the Frenchman.
Advertisement
The result of the gold medal bout means Team GB will leave Rio with a tally of 27 golds, 23 silvers and 17 bronze medals.
The Londoner is now set to be inundated with offers to turn pro.
Joyce beat world no.1 Yoka in the semi-finals of the 2015 European Games in Baku but then lost on a split decision at the world championships. Dychko’s plan was clearly to keep moving as he covered considerable ground in the opening exchanges, establishing an early grip on the match, but he was rocked as Joyce pressed forward in the second and found his range, and the Brit’s unanimous victory put him into Sunday’s golden final. The pressure by Joyce was now unrelenting and the body blows irresistible, as Yoka remained curled behind his high guard tucking it in tightly to defend the tattooed sides of his body as best he could.
“I’m staying hungry and staying humble”, said Joyce.
And Joyce appeared to be the more aggressive of the duo during the super-heavyweight clash, but two of the judges favoured Yoka’s canny counter-attacking and he secured gold on a split decision.
RIO DE JANEIRO Aug 21 Claressa Shields defended her middleweight title on Sunday to become the first US boxer in 112 years to win two Olympic gold medals.
“I thought the gold was mine, I ll just have to watch it again”. I wanted the gold, I expected it, but it wasn’t to be.
The overall total of 67 medals is two more than Team GB achieved at a home Olympics in London 2012. “We have beaten our target, we have beaten London, so in that respect it has been a great Games”.
Advertisement
“I thought I took it to him and I thought I would be coming back over the moon”. He was very quick and mobile and was keeping me on the end of his jab so it was hard to close him down. “I’d love to be there in Tokyo to see it”.
