DUBLIN, Ireland — Paddy Donovan is not sitting on his mandatory shot at the IBF welterweight belt.
The Irishman will risk his title shot this Saturday against the experienced Tyrone McKenna at Dublin’s Croke Park. The current owner of the IBF strap is Liam Paro, who claimed the title from Lewis Crocker back in June. Donovan was watching eagerly, hoping for Crocker to come through so they could compete in a trilogy for the title. Crocker defeated Donovan twice, on both occasions somewhat controversially.
“Yes, obviously the big fight was Lewis Crocker for the third time,” Donovan told BoxingScene. “It was really a history-making fight. Eddie Hearn talked about having a stadium for 60,000 people. Unfortunately we’re going to have to wait now it looks to be.
“If Crocker will get his shot as a mandatory, I think we can do it again. I think it’s one that’s on the horizon. I think it’s one that we can do. But right now my main goal is beating McKenna and winning the world title.”
Some would think Australia’s Paro, a former champion at 140lbs and southpaw, could prove an awkward test for Donovan.
“I think Liam Paro suits me to the ground, let’s be honest. I think it’s the best opportunity I have to win a world title. I don’t think I’m going to get an opportunity like this. I think Crocker’s a more dangerous fight for anybody than Paro. I think Paro’s a good boxer, but at welterweight he doesn’t look to be quite strong. He doesn’t look to be carrying a punch. So I feel like I’d be too big, too strong. And I just have much more experience than him at that level.”
Donovan, who has fought his last two title fights on away soil in Belfast, accepts home advantage may be hard to secure against Paro.
“It would be great if Eddie could get it in Ireland,” he said. “I think I deserve that, but if he’s the champ and the playing field is Australia, it is what it is, as long as I get a fair shake, I’ll dance with him in Australia, no problem.”
A trilogy with Crocker, and a chance to finally defeat his rival, is still on Donovan’s mind.
“I think he won’t be too far off,” Donovan said of his rival. “Maybe a win or two, he’ll be back mandatory. So if he does things right and if he’s serious about getting himself back in contention for a world title fight, then we can make it happen.”
