There would be no repeat of last year’s Commonwealth Games success in the ring for Joe Joyce after the super heavyweight was forced to settle for bronze at the World Boxing Championships in Doha.

The 30-year-old lost out on points to Tony Yoka of France in a close semi-final bout on Monday evening.

He did at least walk away with a bronze medal after making the last four although the boxer was unable to bid for the chance of qualifying for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio after failing to make it through to the gold-medal bout.

Despite the disappointment, it was still another major medal for Joyce who won bronze at the 2013 European Championships and gold at the European Games in 2015 – his Commonwealth Games gold coming in between in Glasgow last summer.

“I thought I did enough, I thought I landed the heavier shots. He’s a tricky opponent but I’m just gutted,” said Joyce.

“The next round could have potentially given me Olympic qualification.

“I’m nearly there again. A bronze medal is alright but there’s no real prize for third.”

Joyce was the last British boxer standing in Doha with Muhammad Ali, Joe Cordina and Josh Kelly all making the quarter-finals.

Qais Ashfaq suffered an early exit on day one while Harvey Horn, Pat McCormack and Joshua Buatsi all failed to make it past the early rounds.

© Sportsbeat 2015