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Eric Donovan tells Eddie Hearn he missed his chance

Eric Donovan [10(6)-0] has told Eddie Hearn the window of opportunity has passed in terms of his offer to add further Irish interest to Katie Taylor topped Manchester November 2 bill.

The Irish featherweight champion had offered to fight local lad and familiar face Ryan Doyle on the Sky Sports broadcast bill – and the proposal was widely welcomed in Ireland.

A genuine ambassador for the sport, Donovan is a much respected and liked fighter with a sizeable profile. He is also a skilled operator Irish fans in particular want to be given a big breakthrough chance.

November 2nd on a card where Katie Taylor will look to become a two weight world championnd when she challenges Christina Linardaou for the WBO light welterweight world title, seemed an ideal platform.

The European and EU Championships bronze medal winner certainly agreed as he offered to trade leather with Manchester native Doyle on the night.

Indeed, he told the Matchroom boss ‘Irish fans will love you and British fans will thank you’ if he made the move.

However, having not been contacted by Eddie Hearn or Matchroom, the 34-year-old has moved on and will fix his sole attention on Belfast and the October 25th ‘He Who Dares’ card in The Devenish.

It’s not that Donovan wants early conformation or substantial lead in time with regard to preparation.

Rather the Boxing Ireland star has an important holiday booked with his fiance around the time of the date, which he is now unwilling to change. Plus he points out his supporters have now begun arranging trips to Belfast for his scheduled fight and he doesn’t want to leave them out of pocket.

“I’ve a week’s holiday with Laura [Cusack, fiancée] from October 26th untill November 2nd planned a long time to put in the final preparations for our wedding next year. Over the last 2 weeks we were willing to listen to Eddie if he got in touch and we would have discussed a plan and a compromise with the planned trip,” Donovan told Irish-boxing.com.

“The reality is, Eddie hasn’t even acknowledged me, so I’m not going to wait around hoping and wishing for a call. The window has passed now, people are booking into hotels in Belfast for my next fight.”

“Everything I’m doing now is geared towards promoting my next confirmed fight, it wouldn’t be a great sell if people knew I was training for Belfast and hoping for London. No, I’m a loyal man and true to my fans, I will be boxing in Belfast and will continue to show why I believe I’m the best featherweight in Ireland.”

Considering Taylor’s pulling power and the fact local favourite Anthony Crolla says goodbye to boxing on the night, tickets should not be an issue.

In that regard Hearn may not be considering any Irish undercard inclusion. However, in the extremely unlikely event of a massive Homecoming fight for Taylor down the line, Sky exposure for Donovan and the likes would have proven beneficial.

The card in Manchester currently features Taylor, Crolla, Joshua Buatsi v Blake Caperello, Qais Ashfaq, Gamal Yafai, and Terri Harper.

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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