WATCH: Paddy Donovan is 'real deal' in claiming WBA continental welterweight title

Paddy Donovan celebrates with his backroom team, including trainer Andy Lee, left, after defeating Danny Ball during their WBA Continental welterweight bout in Dublin on Saturday night

placeholder image — Paddy Donovan celebrates with his backroom team, including trainer Andy Lee, left, after defeating Danny Ball during their WBA Continental welterweight bout in Dublin on Saturday night

HIGHLY-REGARDED professional boxer Paddy Donovan recorded the biggest win of his career with a stunning fourth round stoppage at the 3Arena in Dublin on Saturday night.

Twenty four-year-old Donovan produced a dominant display against Danny Ball to win the WBA continental welterweight title.

The highly-rated Donovan added to his growing reputation with a ninth knockout victory from 12 fights in defeating English man Ball.

The comprehensive win sees 24-year-old Donovan move to 12-0-0 in four years as a professional with former world champion, Limerick man, Andy Lee in the corner.

Donovan entered the ring with heavyweight star Joseph Parker, who is also coached by former middleweight world champion Lee, and he blew the Dublin crowd away with a massive display.

Donovan knocked Ball down with a powerful left in the fourth round of their contest. The English fighter did manage to get to his feet and continued for a little longer.

However, as Donovan began to unload punches on his opponent, Ball went down a second time. His corner threw in the towel with under 20 seconds left in the round.

Southpaw Donovan, who turned pro in 2019, boxed in his amateur days out of Limerick's Our Lady of Lourdes St Saviours Boxing Club.

Donovan is a 13-time Irish national amateur champion.

Also on Saturday night's card at the 3Arena, Katie Taylor avenged the only loss of her career against Briton Chantelle Cameron to become a two-weight undisputed champion following an extraordinary bout.