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Eric Donovan gives encouraging Ryan Burnett sparring update

Ryan Burnett [16(9)-0] may be seven years Eric Donovan‘s junior, but the Athy boxer admits he has learned so much from the upcoming world title challenger.

Donovan [4(3)-0] was in London, both before and after his own headline fight on the May 27th Celtic Clash 2 card, to spar Burnett at Adam Booth’s Surrey gym.

Featherweight southpaw Donovan was viewed as top preparation for IBF bantamweight champion Lee Haskins [34(13)-3(3)], whom Burnett faces this Saturday night at the SSE Odyssey Arena in Belfast, live on Sky Sports.

In what will be encouraging to hear for Irish boxing fans, ‘Lilywhite Lightning’ Donovan can confirm that Burnett is in tip-top shape ahead of the title fight.

Giving Irish-Boxing.com a progress report, the Kildare former amateur standout outlined how Burnett “is in great shape, super condition. He’s very professional in his approach to every single thing, training, eating, resting, repeat.”

“He has incredible power and quick reflexes, super footwork and abo prove all an astute boxing brain. A role model student of the game too, always keen to learn how he can develop every day. ”

“His hunger is plain to see, he’s dreamed of this since he was a kid. I can see him becoming Ireland’s next world boxing Champion.”

The trips to London were mutually beneficially, with Burnett having some well-suited sparring while Donovan was afforded the chance to mix with top level fighters.

The RTÉ pundit, who recently also sparred former WBA featherweight champ Simpiwe Vetyeka, described how “it was brilliant for me and I learned so much from him with his experience of 16 pro fights or so.

“I feel at the level he’s at and just working with him for the few days and been around him has helped me immensely and added to my game”

The Burnett-Haskins undercard at present also features an Irish cruiserweight title fight between Luke Watkins and Ian Tims, Paul Hyland Jr v Adam Dingsdale, James Tennyson v Ryan Doyle, and appearances from Carl McDonald, Tyrone McCullagh, Padraig McCrory, Sean Magee, Matt Wilton, Paddy Gallagher, and the return of Mike Perez.

Tickets for the ‘Belfast Boy’ card on June 10th at the SSE Odyssey Arena cost £30, £40, £60, £100, and £150 (VIP), and can be bought from the boxers involved, with today being the last day, or HERE.

frayne carpentry

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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