IT is Croke Park or bust for Paddy Donovan as he prepares for his first stadium fight on Saturday night.
The southpaw takes on Lewis Crocker for the IBF world welterweight title at Belfast soccer ground Windsor Park.
The Limerick-born boxer has won 11 of his 15 fights by way of knockout
Donovan is set for his rematch with Lewis Crocker after his disqualification last time out
The Real Deal, 26, plans to win decisively and defend his new belt at Munster Rugby’s Thomond Park.
But the boxer, a keen hurler, will not be satisfied until he is drawing the masses to GAA HQ.
Donovan, as the days tick down to the first all-Irish world title fight, told The Rocky Road podcast: “It’s history and that’s what boxing is about. We’re trying to change the landscape of Irish boxing.
“We know that we have talent on this land. We know that we produce some of the best amateur fighters on the planet but the thing is pushing through to the pro ranks and becoming a world champion.
“Headlining Croke Park, headlining Thomond Park, headlining some of the biggest arenas and stadiums in Ireland — that is the end goal for any Irish boxer.
“That’s what Irish boxing needs and that’s what the Irish people demand. I believe that I could be the next person to do that.
“We’ve seen Katie Taylor giving us so many brilliant nights out over the years.
“But to have a male welterweight world champion making history — the first ever all-Irish world title fight on this land — says it all.”
Donovan, coached by Andy Lee, turned pro six years ago with a bout at the Ulster Hall, which packs in about 1,000 fans at capacity.
His last fight, at the SSE Arena also in Belfast, drew multiples of that as he headlined against Crocker in a bout that saw him disqualified for a late punch.
On a feral night, a mass brawl broke out in the stand after the referee’s decision was announced.
And Donovan (14-1) called on rival fans to leave the boxing to the boxers as he looked ahead to even bigger showcases down the line.
He added: “I could see glimpses of it from the ring at the end. I could see there was a bit of controversy starting up in the crowd. That’s not what we want.
“What we want is a good clean fight between me and Lewis Crocker and putting it all on the line.
“It’s brilliant for Irish boxing — for everybody involved in the sport, and any other sport. This is one of the biggest fights to ever happen in this land. We want the crowd to be respectful and just let me and Crocker do the work.
CROKER BOUND?
“I still think the stadium is not big enough. I want bigger. I want better. I want Croke Park. I want 80,000 — not 26,000. I want more people. I want more fans. I want more people cheering for me and people going against me. I love the love-hate thing. I love it all.
“Andy has always said it to me, to absorb the opportunity to fight on the biggest stages — so yeah, look, bigger the better.”
While Taylor is clearly Ireland’s standout fighter on the world stage as four-belt world light-welterweight champ, no Irishman currently holds a crown.
That is set to change, with Donovan certain he will be triumphant on Saturday — before matching KT as an undisputed champ when the opportunity arises.
TARGET LIST
Listing off a series of renowned names he is targeting, he added: “Listen, some fighters say it but they don’t believe they can go all the way.
“I know that I can go all the way in this division. I believe I can beat any fighter on the planet. And that’s not bragging.
“I think the work I’ve done, and the people surrounding me and the endless hours of hard work, it’s all coming together now — I’m going to be world champion.
“And then we have some of the biggest fights in the world right after. Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Conor Benn, Rolly Romero, Brian Norman Jr — I’m sure they’ll all want to test me. They’re gonna have to come to Ireland to really get this belt.
“Big names — I want the best. Listen, when I become the champion of the world, things will change completely in Irish boxing. We’re gonna go on to enjoy some of the biggest nights in history and we’re not gonna be one shot, hit one to win in the world title.
“We want to defend this belt and we have to unify the division and keep going, keep moving forward.”
After preparing up in Dublin for the fight, he is just eager to return to his wife and kids back in Clare after the bout has been settled.
And Donovan is adamant that becoming a champion will not change him.
He said: “No — not as a person. As Andy said to me in training, ‘Paddy, nothing really changes. I remember when I won the world title. It’s back with the wife and just back being normal’.
“The next morning is going to be a normal day for me. It’s back with my wife and kids. Get back and spend some time with them. That’s it. Nothing will change me. No sport or no achievements can change the person that I am.”
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