Lilywhite Lightning to the rescue – Eric Donovan offers to fight Jono Carroll on Ruiz Joshua card

Eric Donovan [10(6)-0] has told Eddie Hearn he will ‘save the day’ by stepping in to fill the Scott Quigg sized hole left on the Saudi Arabia card.

The Irish featherweight champion is not just willing, but keen to take on Jono Carroll [17(3)-1(0)-1] on the undercard of the massive Andy Ruiz Jr versus Anthony Joshua rematch.

‘King Kong’ was originally scheduled fight former world champion Scott Quigg on a bill, that will be broadcast around the world via the Sky Sports and DAZN platforms on December 7.

However, Carl Frampton’s former nemesis was forced to pull out after an old arm injury flared up. Although the magnitude of the main event will ensure the show is a success in terms of viewership numbers, there was real disappointment when news broke that Quigg had been forced out.

Irish fans were hoping to see the recent world title challenger add another name to his record, while the consensus among the neutral was the match up had Fight of the Year potential.

However, Donovan is adamant the loss of Quigg doesn’t have to mean the loss of a good fight on the card. The Kildare native has offered to step up and fight Carroll – and ‘Lillywhite Lightening’ believes the clash of styles would intrigue the fans and lead to an entertaining fight.

Donovan announced his willingness to fight on social media and expanded further when contacted by Irish-boxing.com. The Boxing Ireland fighter admits he is a fan of the Dubliner, but he is ‘longing’ for the chance to progress his career to the next level and feels such a card could be a career changing platform.

“First of all, of course I would [take the fight]. I’m a professional boxer, always ready and longing for a chance,” Donovan told Irish-boxing.com before predicting an entertaining fight.

“I think it would be an intriguing fight, all action fighter versus a stylish and slick boxer. I think it would have everything, in terms of movement, power, skill, guts, heart, balls, intelligence, it will sway from time to time, it will have many chapters I’m pretty sure of that,” he continues.

“I’m actually a fan of [Jono], I think he’s exciting, entertaining, brave and courageous inside the ring.”

Donovan has put his name forward for Matchroom cards before. Most recently he suggested a clash between him and Ryan Doyle would be ideal for the undercard of Katie Taylor’s recent Manchester Arena world title fight.

However, he never got the call. Still he isn’t going to stop trying and pushing for a chance to impress on Sky and is once again offering his services to Hearn.

“Well, I’m sick of giving Eddie advice because he never listens to me. So I’m just here once again offering my service to save the day and fill a void with every ounce of brilliance I have inside me.”