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Undefeated Irish Welterweight Paddy Donovan To Be
Showcased On Cameron vs. Taylor II Nov. 25
Undefeated Irish welterweight sensation Paddy “The Real
Deal” Donovan (11-0, 8 KOs) will fight for his first title
as a professional on November 25th against BBB of C English
welterweight champion Danny Ball (13-1-1, 6 KOs) in a
10-round bout for the World Boxing Association (WBA)
Continental Welterweight Championship.
Donovan, 24, will be showcased on the undisputed world super
lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron (18-0) vs Katie
Taylor (21-1) rematch, streaming on DAZN PPV live from
3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.
“If I win this fight,” Donovan said, “I will win the WBA
Continental title and be ranked No. 15 by the WBA. I’d like
to defend that title a few times and get a world title shot
by the end of next year or early 2025.
“I know Katie Taylor extremely well; I was her sparring
partner when I was 15. She’s one of the nicest people, not
just in boxing, I’ve ever met. She’s never forgotten my
name. She’s even come to train with me and Andy in Dublin a
few times before fights.”
Fighting out of Limerick, Ireland, Donovan is trained in
Dublin by former World Boxing Organization (WBO) World
Middleweight Champion “Irish” Andy Lee (35-3-1, 24 KOs),
whose cousin is unbeaten lineal and reigning World Boxing
Council (WBA) World Heavyweight Champion Tyson “The Gypsy
King” Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs).
Because of his relationship with Lee, Donovan has benefited
from training with Fury and “The Gypsy King” is mighty high
on his fellow Irish Traveller, Paddy.
“I think Paddy Donovan is one of the stars of the future,”
Fury told the Irish Mirror. “He’s definitely the biggest
prospect in Irish boxing at the moment. He’s a very, very
talented young fighter and he’s had a lot of amateur
experience. “He can punch hard, and he has got the boxing
IQ, He’s had great tutelage with my cousin, Andy Lee. I
think he’s going all the way, Paddy!”
“It meant so much to me when Tyson said that I’m going to be
a world champion,” Donovan added. “They call him “The Gypsy
King” and in Ireland, they call me “The Gypsy Prince.”
Donovan, who was born in Ennis in County Clare, is a slick
southpaw with dynamite in both hands, who represented
Ireland at the 2016 World Youth Championships in St.
Petersburg, Russia. As an amateur (65-12), Donovan was a
two-time Irish National Champion, as well as the 2017
International Tournament, Haringey Youth gold medalist in
London.
In 2019, Donovan turned pro, stopping Arturo Lopez in the
opening round of their clash in Belfast, Northern Ireland,
which was scheduled for six rounds. Paddy’s last action was
this past May, in which he knocked out 17-4-1 Sam O’Maison
in round eight.
Already ranked No. 30 by the European Boxing Union,
Donovan’s fight versus Ball, a former World Boxing Council
(WBC) International Welterweight Champion, will be Paddy’s
first scheduled 10-rounder.
“My opponent is a hard hitter who is the English champion,”
Donovan added. “He’s won his last three fights in a row.
I’ll open boxing, coming forward counter-punching, and then
get the knockout.”
New York City-based attorney Keith Sullivan, known for his
work in boxing as a lawyer, represented Lee and the two
co-manage Donovan.
“I think Paddy has all the tools to be world champion,”
Sullivan said. “all he really needs is time, top-level
experience and opportunities. It’s great working again with
Andy Lee, who has developed into a first-class boxing
trainer. His boxing experience is helpful for a young boxer
like Paddy.”
Donovan is a proponent of suicide prevention and mental
health awareness. He is using this fight platform to promote
Pieta, which is a suicide prevention charity providing
mental health services throughout Ireland. Paddy has lost
two relatives to suicide, and he has dedicated his upcoming
fight to mental health awareness. Lee and Sullivan have also
felt the pain of suicide by close relations. The Pietra
Crisis Helpline, 1-800-247-247, offers crisis intervention
support, 24 hours a day 365 days a year, to anyone
experiencing suicidal thoughts or engaging in self-harm and
also supports those bereaved through suicide.
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