BUI IRISH FEATHERWEIGHT champion Eric Donovan will return to the ring for his 10th fight in the punch-for-pay ranks in London’s iconic York Hall venue next month.
As first reported by Irish-boxing.com, ‘Lilywhite Lightning’ [9-0, 5KOs], who boxed abroad on countless occasions during an illustrious amateur career, will make his overseas debut as a professional in the English capital on 22 June.
The 33-year-old stopped Stephen McAfee to claim the emerald strap live on TG4 in March, and his opponent for Hellraiser’s Irish Invasion show at York Hall is expected to be confirmed in the coming days.
Donovan, a popular boxing figure known for his engaging interviews and pugilistic punditry as well as his in-ring ability, is pursuing a European title in the pro ranks.
Here it is again!
— The42.ie (@The42_ie) March 31, 2019
The moment Eric Donovan stopped Stephen McAfee in the fourth round last night to become Irish champion. pic.twitter.com/dwTO5hLueZ
The Boxing Ireland-promoted southpaw will be joined on the London bill by four compatriots signed to Assassin Boxing, who collaborated with Boxing Ireland to produce March’s memorable Clash of the Titans bill.
Victor Rabei, Craig McCarthy, Owen Duffy, and Cillian Reardon all fought live on TG4 on that same Donovan-headlined show at the National Stadium, and they’ll each take to the ring again on 22 June.
Dublin’s Rabei [7-0, 2KOs], of Moldovan stock, edged Jake Hanney in a BUI Celtic light-welterweight title bout in March and will have his third outing in just under four months when he steps through the ropes at York Hall; the affable 25-year-old is scheduled to have a warm-up scrap in Belfast on 18 May before enjoying a higher-profile, 10-round contest in London five weeks later.
Waterford’s McCarthy [6-0, 1KO] is aiming to fight for a title of some sort should pro boxing return to his native county as expected in September, and will stay busy with that in mind when he fights in a super-middleweight contest at the old English arena.
Light-middleweight Duffy [4-1, 2KOs], who hails from Cavan, suffered a first professional defeat against Brit Jake Best in the same city in March, and may yet get a chance to make direct amends for that reversal in Bethnall Green.
Reardon [5-0] of Dublin is Leinster Rugby’s athletic performance coach. A light-middleweight like Duffy, the 31-year-old is eyeing a Celtic title fight in the not-too-distant future but will first have to overcome a six-round test across the water.
More Irish fighters are due to be announced for the bill in the coming weeks.
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I dreamt last night we scored against them in the first min. off to the bookies this morn. come on da boys in green.
ah now Liamo, you’re beginning to sound like a cork langer, and we’ve more than enough of them. Ireland will finish top of the group, and you know we will.
and you sound deluded, but I hope you’re right.
Brady is spot on, still hope we do well but it’s going to be hard getting out of our group, if we do we could go all the way
You serious?
I’d listen to mr Brady if I was you, or are we so used to listening to people in this country who don’t know what they are talking about, that we don’t recognise one who does, ?
My only worry is that we’ve been largely untested, Italy had been poor when we played them. France were definitely not playing their A-game. And the first Russia match was a real eye opener.
However the score still ended 3-2, not to mention holding them to 0-0 away.
There’s no doubt about it, we will have to use team morale as a tool, once a good team sees a chink in our armour they’ll tear us apart.
Thankfully trap knows this.
Croatia have a decent squad but we shouldnt fear them, L.Modric is their best player by a stretch, Krancjar is considered an important player for them & he cant make the spurs team. They have some other decent players but I wouldnt put them in the same bracket as Holland, Germany, Spain. The winner will come from those three in my opinion. Ireland can definitely make it out of their group, draw against Croatia as we always do, will probably lose to Spain & go for it against Italy, who knows, there isnt any pressure on us.
If only Paul the Octopus was still with us. He’d know the winner.
Really any team that gets out of any group can win it. Some very tough groups but anything can happen in knockout football. Come on Ireland.