Limerick welterweight Paddy Donovan shone another light on Irish boxing with a fourth-round knockout of Danny Ball on the Chantelle Cameron-Katie Taylor II undercard last November.
Donovan (12-0, 9 KOs), takes on Mexican Williams Andres Herrera on DAZN’s Lewis Crocker-Jose Felix bill, with the country eager to see Crocker-Donovan in 2024.
“I can’t say much about that fight, but if it does happen it would be great for the Irish fans,” Donovan said, in an exclusive interview for ProBox TV. “Obviously Lewis touched on it in his interviews yesterday, that if the money is right and it is big, or if we have a big title fight, then we will fight. But at the same time, there doesn’t seem to be too much point in two Irish stars just hopping in there for nothing at the end of the tunnel. So yeah, if the money is big and it’s right, and it can secure our families, then I am sure we can dance.”
After a four-year hiatus from boxing, Ireland and its fighters have seen the sport start to flourish again in the fight-loving nation. Donovan fought in the Irish capital three times in 2023 ahead of the 2024 opener in Belfast.
“To be fair, in Ireland I am the biggest fight,” Donovan said of Irish boxing. “You have Kieran Molloy, you probably have Dylan Moran and obviously Lewis Crocker. Molloy is a very good fighter, but there was a decision [in the amateurs] that should have gone my way, we believe and a lot of people believe. A lot of the Irish fans want to see that one be replayed. I’ve got nothing against him, I’ve got a lot of time for Kieran, he’s a very good fighter. He’s not that active right now, but I’m sure he will get back to his ways. That would be great to see, the fans want it, he wants, I want it.
“Dylan Moran was another guy from Waterford mentioned over a year or so ago. There are so many fighters who want to crack off me, so we will see. I’ve got a big fight in summer-time in Limerick. Whoever is up for the challenge, we will see if we can make it happen. When two big prospects in Irish boxing collide, it is always going to be a sellout.”
