Tyson Fury has tipped a young fighter to go all the way to the top.
Already this year, former WBC heavyweight ruler and lineal champion Fury has come out in support of 20-year-old heavyweight star Moses Itauma.
Having previously sparred him, Fury declared him a future world champion and, after Itauma’s first round KO over Dillian Whyte, ‘The Gypsy King’ backed that up by claiming he would also now beat former unified heavyweight king Anthony Joshua.
In a recent post on his Instagram, Fury has now put his backing behind another young fighter after sharing a picture with Ireland’s Paddy Donovan.
“This is the next welterweight champion of the world.”
26-year-old Donovan hails from County Clare and is a rapidly ascending welterweight standout with a remarkable amateur record that includes 13 national titles and a silver medal at the AIBA World Championships. He turned professional in late 2019 and quickly gained momentum under the guidance of trainer Andy Lee. Donovan has had 15 fights, won 14 of them, including against the likes of Lewis Ritson and 11 of them by KO.
Last time out in March, he was disqualified after the referee ruled the bell had gone before he landed a punch at the end of the eighth round that sent his opponent, Lewis Crocker, to the canvas. He had already had points deducted in rounds six and eight for illegal use of the elbow and head, which led to his disqualification.
He appealed and the IBF granted him a rematch, which is set for 13 September at Belfast’s Windsor Park and this time the vacant IBF welterweight title will be on the line in a historic night for Irish boxing.
