Limerick’s Donovan claims title in style
LAST night offered a platform for a new Irish boxer to make a name for themselves and Paddy Donovan grasped the opportunity with both of his fast hands with an exceptional performance to claim the WBA Continental welterweight title.
The undefeated Limerick native is a protégé of Andy Lee and he delivered a display that his trainer would be proud of, completely out-classing England’s Danny Ball.
His hand speed and foot speed caught the eye as Ball had no answer, with his corner throwing in the towel, two minutes and 41 seconds into the fourth round. It was Donovan’s 12th straight win as a pro.
‘Superstars are made on the big stage and I think Ireland have a new superstar in Paddy Donovan,’ Eddie Hearn said.
After that, Gary Cully got back to winning ways with a split decision over Reece Mould to win the WBA continental lightweight title.
Earlier, Thomas Carty’s introduction blew the roof off the arena, re-confirming that the Phibsboro native is a firm fan favourite. And while the undefeated heavyweight found his opponent, Dan Garber, an awkward customer, he was still fairly dominant.
By the eighth, Carty was well ahead on the scorecards but Garber, who often clinched the Dubliner to curtail any momentum, was still on his feet. However, in the final round, the Dubliner finally got the knockout he wanted as Garber fell under a flurry of punches. It was Carty’s seventh win on the spin.
Early arrivals to the 3Arena were treated to another Dub Emmet Brennan winning his first title in only his second professional bout. The Tokyo Olympian stopped Jamie Morrissey in the eighth and final round of their entertaining scrap to claim the Celtic lightheavyweight strap.
Brennan sold almost 700 tickets while Morrissey brought 250 up from Limerick, so it was loud for this bout.
Skye Nicholson retained her WBC interim featherweight title with a ninth-round stoppage over Swede Lucy Wildheart.