Limerick-based boxer to fight for title on Katie Taylor card

LIMERICK based boxer Paddy 'The Real Deal' Donovan is in with a chance of building on his massive reputation this weekend when he fights on the undercard of Katie Taylor's rematch with Chantelle Cameron.

The undefeated welterweight is paired against England's Danny Ball at the 3Arena in Dublin for the World Boxing Association's (WBA) Continental Welterweight Championship. 

Donovan is excited about the possibilities that a victory on Saturday could bring him. "If I win this fight, 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 (Lee) in Dublin a few times before fights."

'The Real Deal' is trained by former world champion, and Limerick native, Andy Lee. Donovan has been given huge praise from current world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (a cousin of Lee) who has tagged him as 'one of the stars of the future'.

"He’s definitely the biggest prospect in Irish boxing at the moment," Fury told the Irish Mirror recently. "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!"

The bout with Ball will be Donovan's first 10 rounder but it should be no problem to the Ennis born fighter, who has won all 11 of his career fights thus far, eight of which have come by knockout.

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.