Philippines, 01 Apr 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Irish middleweight Jim Donovan Registers sensational KO in his Pro debut at home in Ireland

PhilBoxing.com




LETTERKENNY, Donegal, Ireland (October 20, 2025) – Last Saturday night, promising Irish middleweight prospect Jim Donovan (2-0, 1 KO) turned in a memorable performance in his first pro boxing match in his native Ireland, registering a sensational opening-round knockout on the “Rumble In The Hills” card at Aura Complex in Letterkenny, County Donegal.

Fighting in his second pro fight only five weeks after his professional debut in Belfast, the 21-year-old southpaw from Limerick quickly blasted out his Polish opponent, Bartlomiej Wlodarczyk (2-6, 1 KO), dropping him in the opening round with a nifty left and closing the show with a picture-perfect right at the 1:44 mark of round one, when referee Paul McCollough halted the fight.

“A new day, new experience,” Donovan described his pro boxing debut in Ireland. “He’s a tough opponent who came to win, but obviously skills pay the bills. I feel like I’ve been a pro for the last four or five years because I’ve been in a professional boxing gym since I was 14 years old. The debut was a long time coming and hopefully, I’ll be 3-0 by the end of the year with a big 2026 coming.

“Andy (Lee, James’ head trainer and co-manager) is the mastermind behind it all and a big thank you to my manager, Keith Sullivan, too. My two training camps as a professional boxer have been with Paddy for his big one and Joseph Parker for his fight this weekend.”

On September 13th in Belfast, 21-year-old Donovan scored a unanimous decision over veteran Lukasz Barabasez on the Crocker vs. Donovan 2 card in Belfast, in which his cousin Paddy Donovan lost a disputed, heartbreaking decision to Lewis Crocker for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) Welterweight World title.

“Paddy will bounce back in a flash,” Jim predicted. “Paddy will be world champion in 2026, he should have been world champion on March 5th, but controversy is controversy. The second fight was what it was; Paddy should have been up on the scorecards and he’s going to bounce right back.”

Donovan was an outstanding Irish amateur boxer with a remarkable 160-7 record, including 10 Irish National Championships, as well as earning prestigious medals from the 2018 European Boxing Championship Schoolboys and 2022 IBA World Youth Championships.

“A great performance,” manager Sullivan commented. “An excellent showing in Windsor Park and tonight he got his first knockout. Jim Donovan is a diamond in the rough. He’s going to be the next Irish superstar and carry the Donovan name in front of the big Irish boxing crowd. But there’s only one Jim Donovan!”

Reports are that Jim’s next fight could be right at home in Limerick before the end of 2025.

“Limerick has missed out on professional boxing for years, Donovan noted. “There are some great fighters there like Paddy, Eddie (Donovan, Jim’s brother and Paddy’s brother), me, and Kian Henderman. There hasn’t been a professional fight night in Limerick for years and something should be done. Boxing fans in Munster and Limerick are hectic. Any venue in Limerick will fill out.”

“We have some irons in the fire if it doesn’t happen in Limerick so we can get him to 3-0 before the end of this year,” Sullivan concluded.

Photo: L-R: manager Keith Sullivan and pro boxer Jim Donovan.

INFORMATION:
Facebook: #JimDonovan #SullivanGalleshaw
Instagram: @jimdonovan.boxer_ @SullivanGalleshaw




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Is Floyd chickening out?
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • Bacaro to challenge Toyoshima on April 4
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • IBA steps forward as potential organiser for Bivol vs Beterbiev trilogy bout
    , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • PBF president Almario dies
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • Portland Trail Blazers have new owner after $4.25 billion sale
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • 2 Time World Champion Marcos Maidana Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 MARCH 2026: Itauma Destroys Franklin in 5; Fundora Dismantles Thurman in 6
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 31 Mar 2026
  • Panamanian WBC Judge Jesus Aleman murdered in Panama
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 31 Mar 2026
  • ‘I won’t be holding anything back! – Big Bad Bazley challenges The Pilgrim Ryan Williams for Heavyweight title May 29 in Perth – Thunderdome 54
    , Tue, 31 Mar 2026
  • ZAYAS AND BOOTS CLASH IN UNIFIED BLOCKBUSTER AT BARCLAYS CENTER, BROOKLYN ON JUNE 27 – LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE ON DAZN PPV
    , Tue, 31 Mar 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Full Card to Join Taduran Vs. Perez on Friday, April 3, at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. Live on ESPN Knockout
    , Tue, 31 Mar 2026
  • 13-0 prospect Marco Romero hasn’t lost a Fight in nearly 7 years and he’s only 20
    , Tue, 31 Mar 2026
  • WORLD ELITE SUMO ANNOUNCES NEW DATE – SATURDAY, MAY 16 – FOR LIVE PROFESSIONAL SUMO EVENT AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER
    , Tue, 31 Mar 2026
  • Filipino boy, 15, wins US chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 31 Mar 2026
  • 60 Years of Top Rank: Bob Arum’s First Fight Launched a Boxing Empire
    , Mon, 30 Mar 2026
  • Lebron James and son Bronny make NBA History
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 30 Mar 2026
  • Bryan Acosta Wins WBA Continental Americas Featherweight Championship with Unanimous Decision over Ronny Rios in Main Event of ProBoxTV from Thunder Studios in Long Beach
    , Sun, 29 Mar 2026
  • Filipino boy, 9, wins in Canada chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 29 Mar 2026
  • Vagabov and Ziyaev crowned champions at IBA Bare Knuckle 4 in Saint Petersburg
    , Sun, 29 Mar 2026
  • Sherwin Tiu captures Kamatyas Open Chess crown
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 29 Mar 2026
  • Fundora vs Thurman: Can Keith Thurman Shake Off The Rust?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Albert Ramirez Against Lerrone Richards for the WBA Interim Light Heavyweight World Title on June 4 in Montreal!
    , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • GM Daniel Quizon is the Favorite in 19th Kamatyas
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Weights From ‘Acosta vs. Rios’ Event from Thunder Studios in Long Beach, Calif., and Broadcast live on ProBoxTV
    , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Mauricio Sulaiman: WBC maintains priority of the defense of fighters
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 28 Mar 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.