Joyce boxed out of the Doncaster Plant Works Amateur Boxing Club[2] and also boxed for the North Eastern ABA at representative level.[3]
In May 1968 Joyce was chosen to box for Scotland at the Amsterdam international tournament.[4] He represented the Scottish Commonwealth Games team[5] at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland,[6][7] participating in the welterweight category.[8] He won the bronze medal after defeating Welshman Mike McCluskie in the preliminary round and England's Terry Waller in the quarter-finals but then lost out to eventual gold medal winner Emma Ankudey in the semi-final bout.[9]
Joyce turned professional in 1971 and fought 51 professional bouts between 1971 and 1980.[10] As a professional he trained out of Hickleton Boxing Club in Doncaster.[11]
