‘El Pitbull’ targeting KO upset against Eric Donovan
A new challenge awaits Eric Donovan [5(3)-0] this Saturday night.
The Athy featherweight headlines his third show of the year, the most of any Irish fighter, at the National Stadium in Dublin.
‘Lilywhite Lightning’ puts his BUI Celtic title on the line in a first defence on the ‘Celtic Clash 4’ card – which also features a vacant BUI Celtic welterweight title fight between Dubliners Jay Byrne and Gerard Whitehouse.
His opponent for the eight rounder will be tough Spaniard Juan Luis Gonzalez [11(4)-6(3)] – an opponent who has been mooted since May and will now finally step in the ring with the rising Kildare star.
After beating crafty Welsh veteran Dai Davies to win the title on ‘Celtic Clash 3,’ Donovan is now presented with a completely different kind of opponent.
From Gijon in the Celtic Asturias region of northern Spain, the fighter nicknamed ‘El Pitbull’ will push Donovan. Fit and strong, the five time Irish champion and European bronze medalist won’t be given a moment’s rest in what looks to be an intriguing clash of styles.
Gonzalez has mixed it with good opposition, having been outpointed over eight by top Irish super featherweight Jono Carroll and stopped in the ninth in a Spanish title fight with current European champion Marc Vidal.
The man himself makes no bones about his approach, and states proudly that “I am a brave fighter. I like to attack and get into wars.”
While they may be polar opposites in terms of fighting style, Gonzalez sees similarities with his upcoming opponent. Like Donovan, the Spaniard turned pro in his thirties and, like Donovan, he is a southpaw. 38 year old Gonzalez described how “I know that he is a lefty like me. We are both veterans of the sport.”
Whether or not he feels that outboxing Donovan is out of the question, Gonzalez is targeting an knockout win at the National Stadium. In training for this fight now for almost two months, ‘El Pitbull’ outlined how “I want like to win inside the distance. I suppose Eric wants the same, but we’ll see, you’ll have to wait until we are in the ring.”
32 year old Donovan is not underestimating his upcoming foe, and notes how “he’s good, he’s strong, and he’s very dangerous because he is unpredictable. These guys, they’re not schooled like a normal amateur boxer is schooled, he’s a raw pro – and he’s a southpaw as well, my first southpaw, I’ve never boxed a southpaw as a pro.”
“He’s capable, he boxed Marc Vidal a while ago and Marc Vidal went on to win the European title afterwards. He was in that for nine rounds, had some success in a lot of the rounds, maybe took a round or two.”
“I’m not seeing myself as superior but I am very confident. I do see him as a threat, I’ll have to raise my game and I’m just trying to focus on what I’ve been doing with Andy. I’m feeling good though. I’m working myself very hard.”
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Celtic Clash 4 also features a super featherweight scrap between Colin O’Donovan and Stephen McAfee as well as appearances from Bernard Roe, Graham McCormack O’Shea, Vladimir Belujsky, James Cahill, Craig O’Brien, John Joyce, Martin Quinn, Dylan McDonagh, Thomas Finnegan, Darren Cruise. and Niall O’Connor.
Tickets for the show cost €30 (Balcony), €40 (Gallery), €60 (Ringside), €100 (VIP Premium), and €15 (Under-15s gallery – must be bought alongside an adult ticket) and are available to buy from the Healthy Living Centre, 2 Duke Street, Athy, County Kildare, or by calling Laura on 086 7949 406, or online at Ticketmaster.ie.
