Big Joe as he's affectionately known, got his first ring baptism of fire when he fought the national junior champion Steve Collins. His second fight proved young Joe had come on.

By the age of 24 he had recorded over 80 wins, 7 Irish titles and was also a Golden Gloves champion. A mean body puncher with a durable chin, this broad shouldered blonde Dubliner with film star looks fought 11 times wearing the green vest of Ireland.

He's considered unfortunate not to have made the Olympics and he attracted more attention when he went the distance with Lennox Lewis and beat future WBA champion Bruce Seldon.