Jay Byrne Dangles European Title Carrott in Front of Donovan and Carr

The victor of the extremely fan-friendly Edward Donovan – Peter Carr match-up this Saturday night could put themselves in the frame for a European title shot, muses Jay Byrne. 

The JB Promotions boss believes Irish middleweight champion Paul Ryan is on the verge of a continental clash and expects the Blanch native to secure a shot soon. 

The former boxer also believes that could open up the door to the first all Irish EBU European title fight since Willie Casey defeated Paulie Hyland in the University of Limerick in 2010. 

If ‘Ravishing’ was to win the title or fight for the vacant strap, the fighter turned fight maker would move to put the winner of the Judgement Day battle in with him. 

“Why go to Europe and bring in some outsider opponent if there’s someone in Ireland that we can use and then Ireland is guaranteed a European title?” Byrne said.

There are two names in Ireland that he sees suitable; both have shared the ring with Ryan and share the ring with each other on Saturday night. 

“Both lads’ last fights were losses to Paul Ryan,” Byrne added.

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“Paul Ryan is the middleweight champion. Paul Ryan will most likely vacate the middleweight title when he gets his fight for his European belt and who’s to say that they won’t be the opponent for Paul for the European?”

‘The Negotiator’ believes that possible outcome will prove extra motivation ahead for both ‘The Dominator’ and the ‘The Devil’ come Saturday. 

“There’s always that carrot dangling. There’s always win or lose and there’s always an outcome.”

Ryan will be an interested spectator ringside on the South Circular Road on Saturday. 

The boxer, who scored a Croke Park win over Paddy Gallagher to make it three domestic victories in a year, outpointed fellow former underage amateur standout, Donovan last year and won one of the greatest ever Irish middleweight title fights against Carr in April.