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European title hopeful Eric Donovan confirms new fight date

 

European title hopeful Eric Donovan [10(5)-0] will return to the ring in October.

The Irish featherweight champion is the latest addition to the ‘He Who Dares’ card which will play out in Devenish on October 25.

‘Lillywhite Lightening’ will fight a yet to be confirmed opponent in his third fight of 2019.

It emerged earlier this year that Donovan had been in the frame to face Spain-based Ecudorian Carlos Ramos for the vacant EBU European Union title on the same night as his ‘Irish Invasion’ win at York Hall.

The Kenneth Egan trained fighter accepted the fight in Santander but Ramos would instead choose Razaq Najib from the shortlist of opponents and promptly dominated the Englishman over twelve rounds to claim the belt.

The win saw Ramos add the EU belt to the Spanish title he won last year ā€“ via knockout of former Mick Conlan opponent Ibon Larrinaga.
Donovan and his team feel a tilt is not to far away, but it’s not expected to play out next month.
Ramos is scheduled to make his first defense in York Hall on October 4, but the Boxing Ireland leading light will hope for a shot before the year is out.

Speaking to Irish-boxing.com when news of the title offer broke, Boxing Ireland’s Leonard Gunning said,Ā  ā€œitā€™s time to get a step-up now, one of the big Spaniards or one of the big Brits, weā€™ve got to get that EU title shot within the year and it is coming, itā€™s all coming together now.ā€ā€œSeptember, weā€™ll have him back in a big fight back in front of his home audience again and that will be the last step before we get our title shot.ā€

Donovan is the third fighter confirmed on the already busy card in three days.

An interesting clash between Craig O’Brien and Owen Jobburn was announced yesterday, while Friday saw conformation Cathy McAleer will challenge for the vacant Commonwealth title at the Devenish on October 25.

The card will also host the debut of Darren Oā€™Neill will debut, the former amateur standout jumping straight into a light heavyweight six rounder.

Dylan Moran of Waterford will also appear in what will be his second fight in a matter of weeks ā€“ the first playing out in Mexico this weekend.

Undefeated light middleweight Cillian Reardon takes a step up as he faces Jake Best, a fighter who holds a win over Cavanā€™s Owen Duffy.

ā€˜The Freakā€™ Matthew Fitzsimons makes his return to the ring and adds further Belfast interest as does debutant Ruadhan Farrell.

Also on the Mickey Helliet Slater Sports show will St Michaels Gym Inchicore heavyweight Paddy Nevin and Paul Hyland Jr.

 

Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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