Jim Donovan won’t waste any time with the next step in his career after making his professional debut last month: A 21-year-old middleweight southpaw from Limerick, Ireland, Donovan will make his return against Bartlomiej Wlodarczyk on October 18 at Aura Complex in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland.
Donovan will face Poland’s Wlodarczyk, 2-5 (1 KO), in a four-round bout on a card dubbed “Rumble in the Hills,” which will be streamed live on Triller TV.
In his first foray into the pros, Donovan won a unanimous decision over Lukasz Barabasez on the September 13 Lewis Crocker-Paddy Donovan II card, in which Jim’s cousin Paddy Donovan fell in a showdown for a vacant welterweight title.
Donovan, 1-0, was an excellent amateur (record: 160-7) who won 10 Irish National Championships and the 2022 IBA World Youth Championships.
“Everything was the same other than the atmosphere in the arena, ring walk and the large crowd,” Donovan said, comparing the amateurs to the pros. “In the ring, it was the same: just me and my opponent. I like keeping active and fighting only five weeks later. It’ll help build my record and help me move up.”
Keith Sullivan, who co-manages Donovan with trainer and former middleweight titlist Andy Lee, can be expected to continue keeping his fighter busy.
““I have high expectations for Jim,” Sullivan said. “Every young fighter wants to get to the top, to reach the promised land of a world title bout, but few have the talent or drive to stick it out through the grueling days along the journey. I believe Jim is unique in that he has what it takes to persevere down that road. Fighting in Ireland is a great opportunity for him to showcase his professional talents.”