Olympic Dreams Behind Him, Paddy Donovan Set For Pro Journey

The belief coming out of Ireland at the start of 2019 was that Limerick’s Paddy Donovan boasted a terrific shot at representing the nation in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

A pair of controversial losses may have ended that dream for the 13-time national champion, but it also opened the door for plans he was otherwise prepared to put on hold.

Having already sifted through a mountain of offers from promoters, Donovan decided that Top Rank Inc. was the best fit to help launch his pro career. Along for the ride—and helping facilitate the deal—is the most established boxer to ever come out of his hometown, Andy Lee who will serve as head trainer for the 20-year old southpaw welterweight.

“It’s just a dream come true,” Donovan told BoxingScene.com of both developments ahead of his pro debut, which takes place this Friday at Ulster Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. “I’ve always looked up to Andy, a fellow Limerick man who I watched (box) since I was six years old. I couldn’t be working with a better trainer for my pro career.”

In line with his rich amateur career in which he amassed a 161-5 record, Donovan—not related to this scribe (until DNA tests prove otherwise)—sought an ambitious start in the pro ranks. His bout on Friday—which will air live on ESPN+ in the United States and IFL TV globally—was to come versus Mexico’s Sergio Torres (27-9-1, 21KOs). Visa issues scratched those plans, as he will instead face 21-fight veteran Arturo Lopez.

It’s not the sexiest matchup, but is still a proper fit for a debutant who is barely months removed from last amateur fight.

“Paddy has all the talent in the world, the first year will be to nurture that talent and let him grow as a professional,” explained Lee (35-3-1, 24KOs), a former middleweight champion who split his pro career under the tutelage of Adam Booth and the late Emanuel Steward. “In the gym, he’s already well ahead of the game in terms of a debutant. The trick is to perfect those things and let it become an everyday habit.

“I know as a fighter, we want to conquer the world right away. My job is to keep him on track and make sure he takes his career one fight at the time. Year one, keep busy and get in the habit of everything that goes with a pro fight. The ritual of getting his hands wrapped, the fight night atmosphere. In the amateurs, you fight a certain way and you win fights, the crowd accepts it. In the pros, the crowd wants blood. The beginning stages are important in learning to stay focused and make sure you do everything the right way.”

There is still the matter of getting through his pro debut, but a Nov. 16 date awaits his next fight assuming all goes well on Friday. The goal is six or seven fights within his first 12 months as a pro, including—at some point—bringing his talents across the Atlantic to the United States.

“It already looks like there’s a path for me to fight on St. Patrick’s Day (weekend) at (New York City’s) Madison Square Garden,” reveals Donovan.

Top Rank has promoted shows at MSG’s Hulu Theater on the Irish holiday for each of the past three years. The run began with the pro debut of Belfast's Michael Conlan (12-0, 7KOs) in 2017, with the two-time Irish Olympian and 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist headlining the venue on all three occasions. There remains a strong likelihood that he will land on the aforementioned St. Patrick’s Day 2020 bill, with Donovan figuring to be along for the ride in realizing yet another dream he set for himself upon turning pro.

For now, the only goal in place is to post his first victory and to show he’s completely left behind his amateur days—memories, style and all.

“What the fans who’ve seen me through the years can expect to change is that I won’t be standing straight up and fighting tall,” promises Donovan. “My defense is better, my offense is A LOT better. I’m sparring more rounds, longer rounds in the gym. Everything is good and we’re just ready to begin this journey.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox