LIMERICKS’ Jim Donovan has been added to the explosive Matchroom Boxing Card headlined by his cousin Paddy ‘The Real Deal’ Donovan (v Lewis Crocker, IBF World Welterweight title), at Windsor Park, Belfast, on September 13.
In this his professional debut, southpaw Donovan will face Lukasz Szczepaniak of Poland in a four-round bout.
“What a stage to make my professional debut,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming and I can’t wait for the night I make my pro debut and also the night a world title comes home to the Donovan home. Camp has been going very well.”
“Paddy has always been a big influence on my career and somebody I’ve always looked up to,” the 21-year-old said.
“We never pushed for me to fight as a pro. I’ve always been training with Paddy and Andy. Before my wedding, I had a chance to fight on two or three cards, but I decided to make my pro debut after I got married to my wife (Kathleen Marie), and we’re expecting our first child around Christmas.”
He, like Paddy, is under the guidance of former World Champion and fellow Limerickman Andy Lee and New York attorney Keith Sullivan.
“I couldn’t be happier to be with Andy and Keith,” stated Donovan. “I’m the luckiest prospect ever in Ireland. My pro debut won’t make me nervous because I train and fight every time like it’s for a world title. I’m excited to start.”
“Andy has always been and is like a father figure for me. I look up to him and anything he tells me to do, I do. Him being a world champion drives me. There’s no experience better than getting it from somebody who has already been where I want to get. I believe I can win a world title like Andy, and that road starts in September.”