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Fighting On Katie Taylor’s Farewell Card
Is A Dream Come True For Paddy Donovan
Coming off his successful performance in International
Boxing Federation’s Title Eliminator this past May in
Germany, the new IBF No. 1, mandatory challenger Paddy “The
Real Deal” Donovan couldn’t be happier or more excited to be
fighting September 5th at famed Croke Park on Irish boxing
icon Katie Taylor’s farewell fight card, “Once Upon a Time,”
in Dublin.
Taylor (25-1, 6 KOs) faces undefeated Flora Pili (12-0, 2
KOs), of France, for the Undisputed World Super Lightweight
Championship, while Limerick’s Donovan (15-2-1, 11 KOs)
takes on Tyrone “The Mighty Celt” McKenna (5-6-1, 8 KOs), of
Belfast, in a 10-round match. “Once Upon a Time, “ which
will be streamed live worldwide on DAZN, sold-out in
30-minutes.
It also marks the first professional boxing event held at
Croke Park in 54 years, since “The Greatest” – Muhammad Ali
– stopped Alvin Lewis in the 11th round of their heavyweight
fight there. Donovan vs. McKenna is the lone scheduled
All-Irish match-up on the Sept. 5th main card, the first of
its kind at Croke Park in a century, since promoter Jim Rice
held a pro boxing event there on July 10, 1926, which
featured several All-Irish fights.
“I am a proud Irishman and to fight in front of 80,000
people is a dream come true for me,” the charismatic Donovan
said. “Once this card was announced, I told Andy (Lee,
Donovan’s head trainer/co-manager) and Keith (Sullivan,
co-manager/lawyer) to make it happen. Every single fighter
wants to fight in front of 80,000 people, especially with
Croke Park being a historical stadium for national sports,
and it is a dream for me to participate and show fans around
the world with 80,000 Irish fans in the stadium cheering.
I’m really looking forward to it.
“This will be my third time fighting on a Katie Taylor card
and it gets even more special every single time, none better
than this one. Katie has led by example through the years
and she’s a fighter I’ve looked up to. And to be a part of
her last fight, here in Ireland is fitting. I can’t wait for
fight night!”
Taylor will retire after this fight, leaving a void in terms
of the contemporary face of Irish boxing. An impressive
victory for Donovan on Sept. 5, followed by a world title
challenge, could insert Donovan into that position.
“Katie Taylor is one of the greatest athletes Ireland has
ever had; she’s the greatest female fighter of all time,” a
respectful Donovan added. “She has already put Irish boxing
on the map. Katie has put us in the history books. How great
is that to be the greatest female fighter who has ever, and
to be from our small country? Katie is a national treasure
to us. It’s a proud moment for Katie to be fighting in front
of 80,000 fans and I am so happy and grateful to get my
opportunity and chance to fight on the same card. I wish her
all the best, but she will be remembered in Irish folklore
forever.”
“Fighting on Katie's retirement card in Croke Park before
80,000 people is exactly the kind of stage Paddy Donovan
belongs on,” Sullivan commented. “Paddy has established
himself as one of Ireland’s most exciting fighters, and now
he gets the opportunity to perform in front of a massive
home crowd on a truly historic night. We’ve always believed
Paddy has the talent to become a world champion, and nights
like this are another important step toward that goal. I
expect Paddy to put on a spectacular performance and remind
everyone why he is one of the brightest stars in Irish
boxing.”
Donovan is facing a tough, experienced opponent in McKenna,
who he knows, respects and isn’t looking past. A former WBC
Inter-Continental Champion, the battle-tested McKenna has
been in tough against the likes of Jack Catterall, Roger
Progais, Harlem Eubank and Paddy’s archrival, Lewis Crocker.
“Tyrone McKenna has nothing to lose in this fight,” Donovan
added. “This is potentially Tyrone’s last fight, so he’s
going to give it his all fighting in front of 80,000 Irish
fans. Tyrone is a proud Irishman. I’m sure he’s taking this
fight seriously, because he’s going to be in the ring with a
young, very hungry, dangerous fighter. Let’s enjoy the
moment and put it all on the line and give the Irish fans
something to really enjoy.
“Tyrone and I have mutual respect for each other. We go way
back to when I started my professional journey in 2019, when
Tyrone McKenna was my sparring partner for many years while
he was at the peak of his career. I helped him and he helped
me along the way. He will bring a lot of experience in the
ring on September 5th. I’m looking forward to seeing how
good Tyrone can be. It’s a great matchup and I’m looking
forward to it.”
Donovan is eager to take on the elite of one of boxing’s
hottest divisions and its “name” champions, but, first, he
needs to get past McKenna.
“The welterweight division is a great place right now with
some amazing champions. (Americans) Ryan “King Ry” Garcia
(WBC, 25-2, 20 KOs) for one, Devin “The Dream” Haney (WBO,
33-0, 15 KOs), Rolly Romero (17-2, 13 KOs) and (Australian)
Liam Paro (IBF, 28-1, 16 KOs),” Donovan noted. “Once I
capture the IBF title, I want to fight the best because I
believe I’m one of the best fighters in the world. I will
fight them anywhere, anytime. I’ll be ready. They will never
see a storm like what is going to come their way once I
capture the IBF title. I believe I can beat every single one
of them. I’m not worried and don’t care about anyone as long
as I get my opportunity to fight them. I will take those
fights with both hands.”
A cracker of a fight is on the horizon, and more happy days
are certainly coming for Paddy Donovan.
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