Philippines, 06 Apr 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Rising Irish star welterweight prospect Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan Psyched to headline at home in Limerick and fight in New York City

PhilBoxing.com




(L-R) – Andy Lee & Paddy Donovan celebrating together after the November 25th victory

NEW YORK (December 4 , 2023) – Fresh off his scintillating knockout of English welterweight champion Danny Ball (13-2-1, 6 KOs), newly crowned World Boxing Association (WBA) Continental Welterweight Champion Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (12-0, 9 KOs) gained invaluable exposure worldwide by fighting on a DAZN pay-per-view headlined by the rematch between Irish superstar Katie Taylor (22-1) and previously undefeated, unified world super lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron (18-1), that was streamed live from 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.

The 24-year-old Donovan lit up the sellout crowd with his fan-friendly style of boxing, displaying superior hand and foot speed, as well as dynamite in his hands as he picked up the pace in the third round, followed by an explosive fourth when he closed the show.

Donovan lived up to his nickname and pre-fight hype, cracking Ball with a powerful left that rocked his world. The game Ball somehow stayed upright, at least temporarily, but Donovan trapped him in a corner and unleashed nearly a 50 punch-barrage, mostly unanswered, decking his opponent with a vicious body shot as he moved out of the corner. Ball’s corner wisely threw in the towel before the judge’s count started.

“I looked in my corner (in the fourth round),” Donovan noted, “and Andy (Lee, his head trainer) said to go get him. I did! There was a lot of pressure to deliver in Ireland because there was a lot of talk about me fighting. The crowd anticipated my fight, and I handled it well. The fight went as good as I could have dreamed. I knew I had the talent but my maturity at 24 is where I’ve improved the most this past year. It went as we trained, and I knocked him out in the fourth round. My footwork was good, I set-up my shots and came out of the fight without a scratch. This was my best fight to date.”

In a post-fight press conference, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn proclaimed Donovan the newest Irish boxing superstar, in addition to indicating that he’s interested in promoting a fight in Paddy’s hometown of Limerick with him headlining.

"Superstars are made on the big stage and Ireland have a new superstar in Paddy Donovan,” Hearn stated. “I truly believe that. He's flashy, he's skillful, he's a good-looking fella.... He's a champion now moving to championship fights, but everybody loved seeing that fight."

“We like to see new talent emerge in Ireland,” Donovan said. “I’m set to move into the limelight."

Eddie Hearn talked about a show in Limerick with me headlining. We haven’t had boxing here in the last 10-15 years and this would possibly be the biggest boxing event ever in Limerick. If that fight doesn’t happen next, we’re also looking to fight in New York City, possibly on St. Patrick’s Day at Madison Square Garden.”

Not only is Limerick-native Lee (35-3-1, 24 KOs), the former World Boxing Organization (WBO) Middleweight World Champion, Donovan’s chief second, he also co-manages Paddy with New York-based attorney Keith Sullivan.

Lee added, “That’s (fight vs. Ball) just a taste of what he can do. There’s a lot more to come from Paddy. We can bring Matchroom to Limerick for a world title fight.”




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • NOTHING BUT SPORTZ PRESENTS GAMBOA & RIGONDEAUX — MAY 2 IN MIAMI ONE NIGHT. SAME CARD. HAVANA HEAT
    , Mon, 06 Apr 2026
  • Wilkens Mathieu Against Olympic Medallist Esquiva Falcao at the Théâtre Capitole of Quebec City on June 11!
    , Mon, 06 Apr 2026
  • National Master Jasper Faeldonia rules Romblon chessfest
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 06 Apr 2026
  • Twin wins for Pinoy boxers
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 05 Apr 2026
  • NM Buto spearheads Goldland Chess Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 05 Apr 2026
  • Andreas Cortes vs Eridson Garcia Tops Paramount Plus Card
    By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 05 Apr 2026
  • Chris "Sandman" Thomas Back in the Win Column
    , Sun, 05 Apr 2026
  • Taduran Stops Pérez in 7, and “Still” IBF 105 Champion
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • Pedro Taduran Scores Sensational Stoppage Over Gustavo PÉRez ÁLvarez in IBF Minimumweight World Championship Main Event
    , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • BROWN STOPS DUCAR TO LAND FIRST PRO TITLES
    , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • Guy Jutras, a gentleman and pilgrim of world boxing, passes away
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • GM Joey Antonio keeps Philippine flag alive, posts hard-earned win in Canberra chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • TWO WORLD TITLE FIGHTS CONFIRMED FOR ‘GLORY IN GIZA’ UNDERCARD
    , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • MANSOUR AND BALLO MAKE WAVES WITH UNPRECEDENTED OPEN WORKOUT ABOARD CITY CRUISES ADMIRAL HORNBLOWER AHEAD OF SD FIGHT NIGHT: FAMILY BUSINESS
    , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • Rookie Kon Knueppel breaks Charlotte Hornets three points record
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • IBA extends its global reach through a strategic partnership with Nomad Fighting premiering at IBA Nomad 14
    , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • GM Laylo leads in Bundesliga 3 and in IIEE chess Olympiad season 8
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS TADURAN VS. PEREZ WEIGH-IN RESULTS
    , Fri, 03 Apr 2026
  • PLANET ICE FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AS BROWN AND DUCAR FACE-OFF FOR FINAL TIME
    , Fri, 03 Apr 2026
  • Battle of the Trades Returns for Its 3rd Year April 25 at Torrey Pines Community Resource Center in Las Vegas
    , Fri, 03 Apr 2026
  • Bobby Laing vs. Russ Kimber in intriguing Intra-state match-up between Massachusetts Light Heavyweights on ‘Rumble at the Rink II’
    , Fri, 03 Apr 2026
  • PH chess wizard Jacobb Seda ties for 1st, settles for silver on tiebreaks in Thailand meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 03 Apr 2026
  • Rene “Chulo” Santiago, Masataka Taniguchi Officially Make Weight for Friday’s Unified World Title Clash in Tokyo
    , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Marlon Tapales and Yukinori Oguni Make Weight in Clash of Former World Champions
    , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Taduran in high spirits ahead of title defense in California
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.