February 26: Robeisy Ramirez-Eric Donovan Featherweight Battle Added to Josh Taylor-Jack Catterall Glasgow Extravaganza LIVE on ESPN+

GLASGOW (Jan. 20, 2022) — Two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez will cross the pond to battle Irish veteran Eric Donovan in a 10-round featherweight battle Saturday, Feb. 26 at OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.

Ramirez-Donovan highlights a loaded undercard before the highly anticipated junior welterweight showdown between Scottish undisputed world champion Josh “The Tartan Tornado” Taylor and undefeated WBO No. 1 contender Jack “El Gato” Catterall.

The entire Taylor-Catterall card will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+.

“Ever since that shocking loss in his professional debut, Robeisy Ramirez has shown why he was one of the top fighters from the 2016 Rio Olympics,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Robeisy fought all over the world during his amateur career, and we are thrilled that he will be able to showcase his skills for the Scottish fans.”

Ramirez (8-1, 4 KOs) is no stranger to fighting on British soil. At the 2012 London Olympics, he stunned the flyweight field as a 16-1 underdog to win gold. Ramirez won a second gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and defected from Cuba in July 2018. Following a split decision defeat to Adan Gonzales in his August 2019 pro debut, Ramirez has won eight straight fights, including a shutout decision win over Gonzales in their 2020 rematch. Ramirez shined on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III undercard last October, dominating the previously unbeaten Orlando Gonzalez over 10 rounds. Donovan (14-1, 8 KOs), a one-time Irish amateur star from Athy, has won two fights since an August 2020 TKO loss to Zelfa Barrett.

Ramirez said, “Ever since I won my first Olympic gold medal in London, I’ve wanted to fight again in this part of the world. Scottish fans are incredibly passionate, and I can’t wait to put on a great show for them in front of a sold-out arena. My opponent is a tough Irishman, and I will be at my very best to come out victorious.”

In other undercard action on ESPN+:

  • Nick The Glasgow Warrior’ Campbell (4-0, 4 KO’s) and Jay The Ghost McFarlane (12-5, 5 KO’s) will collide in a highly anticipated showdown for the vacant Scottish heavyweight title.
     
  • A pair of Top Rank-signed prospects will make their respective professional debuts in six-rounders. Featherweight Kurt Walker won bronze at the 2017 European Championships, silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and gold at the 2018 EU Championships and 2019 European Games. Walker, who represented Ireland last summer at the Tokyo Olympics, lost to Top Rank stablemate Duke Ragan in a hotly contested quarterfinal bout. Junior middleweight Kieran Molloy, from Galway Ireland, won 11 national amateur titles and earned a bronze medal at the 2018 EU Championships in Valladolid, Spain. 
  • Top Rank-signed welterweight sensation Paddy “Real Deal” Donovan (7-0, 5 KOs), from Limerick, Ireland, returns to action in a six-rounder. Donovan is coming off last August’s first-round knockout over Jose Luis Castillo.
     
  • BOXXER Series junior welterweight winner Cori Gibbs (16-0, 3 KOs) will begin his new promotional deal in an eight-rounder.
  • Rising female star Ebonie Jones (1-0) has her second pro fight against Effy Kathopouli over six rounds at junior featherweight. Portsmouth’s Jones, a former Team GB standout amateur and HGV driver in the British Army, made her pro debut last October with a points win over Vaida Masiokaite.
  • Edinburgh cruiserweight ace Scott Forrest sets out on his professional journey when he makes his pro debut in a six-round contest. Born in South Africa, Forrest relocated to Forth, Scotland, as a five-year-old. He competed at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games and has sparred former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 17.1 million subscribers.

Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $6.99 a month (or $69.99 per year)
at ESPN.comESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).




October 30: Jose Zepeda-Josue Vargas Junior Welterweight Showdown Headlines Halloween Weekend Havoc at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden and LIVE on ESPN+

NEW YORK (Sept. 28, 2021) — Jose “Chon” Zepeda wants a third world title shot. Josue “The Prodigy” Vargas, born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Bronx, hopes his hometown main event is the ticket to title contention.
 
Zepeda and Vargas will meet in a 10-round junior welterweight main event Saturday, Oct. 30 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. Zepeda is ranked No. 2 in the world by the WBC, and Vargas, winner of 13 straight bouts, hopes to knock “Chon” off his lofty perch.
 
Zepeda-Vargas and a 10-round bantamweight tilt between undefeated Puerto Rican knockout artist Carlos “Purin” Caraballo and former world title challenger Jonas Sultan will stream and live and exclusively on ESPN+ starting at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. 
 
Undercard action — also streaming and live and exclusively on ESPN+ — includes former world champion Jonathan Guzman returning in an eight-round junior featherweight fight, Long Island-born welterweight Jahi Tucker (4-0, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder, Kasir “Mazzi” Goldston (3-0, 1 KO) competing in a six-round junior welterweight contest, New York City prospect Mathew Gonzalez (12-0, 8 KOs) making his MSG debut in a six-rounder at junior welterweight, former New York City amateur standout Ray Cuadrado (1-0, 1 KO) in a four-rounder at junior lightweight, and Irish sensation Paddy “Real Deal” Donovan (7-0, 5 KOs) making his American debut in a six-round welterweight assignment.
 
Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $30 (not including fees) go on sale Friday, Oct. 1 at 12 p.m. ET and can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com or MSG.com. All guests age 12 and older are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination (this means having at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine prior to attending). MSG’s comprehensive COVID-19 guidelines, including those regarding children under 12, can be found at https://www.msg.com/madison-square-garden/faqs.
 
“It’s been a long time, and Top Rank and ESPN are thrilled to be back at Madison Square Garden with an intriguing battle between a sensational young southpaw in Vargas and a world-level contender in Zepeda. The winner is squarely in the title picture,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Carlos Caraballo has all the makings of the next Puerto Rican superstar. Not many bantamweights can punch like this kid, but Sultan is far from a pushover.”
 
Zepeda (34-2, 21 KOs) is unbeaten in five bouts since a tight majority decision loss to then-WBC world champion Jose Ramirez in February 2019. The slick-boxing Zepeda participated in the 2020 Fight of the Year, knocking out Ivan Baranchyk in the fifth round of a bout that featured eight total knockdowns. He returned in May on the Josh Taylor-Ramirez undercard and outboxed “Hammerin” Hank Lundy over 10 rounds. Zepeda hopes a win over Vargas leads to a Ramirez rematch or perhaps a crack at undisputed king Taylor. Vargas (19-1, 9 KOs) earned his nickname as a wunderkind in the Bronx, where he compiled a 72-8 amateur record and won six New York City Metro championships. Apart from a controversial disqualification loss early in his pro career, Vargas has been near-perfect. He fought twice in 2020 inside the MGM Grand Bubble, notching wide points wins over Salvador Briceno and Kendo Castaneda. He last fought April 24 in Kissimmee, Florida, and turned back the awkward challenge of Willie Shaw over 10 rounds.
 
“I am pushing hard to earn another world title opportunity, but I understand the task at hand against a young, talented fighter like Josue Vargas,” Zepeda said. “There is mutual respect, but when we enter the Madison Square Garden ring, that all goes out the window.”
 
Vargas said, “I’m ready for this opportunity. Being the main event in my hometown, Madison Square Garden, is a dream true. The Bronx and Puerto Rico will be in the building to show their support. This is Puerto Rico versus Mexico, so you know it’s going to be a heck of a fight. Once I got the call, I started pushing even harder. I‘ve been through a lot in my professional career, so why not step up to the plate? I have the skills to beat Zepeda, and I’m going to do just that. Zepeda has a lot of experience against the top names in the junior welterweight division. We both have the talent and the skills to put on a show.”
 
Caraballo (14-0, 14 KOs), from Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, is a five-year pro who broke out in March with his fourth-round demolition over Leonardo Baez. He hopes to enter the world title picture with an impressive showing over Sultan (17-5, 11 KOs), a former world title challenger from the Philippines who has never been stopped as a professional. In May 2018, Sultan dropped a decision to Jerwin Ancajas for the IBF junior bantamweight world title. He has won three out of his past four fights and last fought in August, knocking out Sharone Carter in seven rounds.
 
Caraballo said, “I am thankful for the opportunity that my promoter, Miguel Cotto Promotions, is giving me together with Top Rank to fight at Madison Square Garden. I will take this opportunity to look great and continue to make noise at 118 pounds as I aspire to win a world title. Sultan is a strong, experienced opponent. I know he has fought the big names, but I am working hard with my team to show I am a force to be reckoned with. This victory is for my people from Guayanilla, and all Puerto Ricans in New York.”
 
About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 14.9 million subscribers.
  
Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $6.99 a month (or $69.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).
 
About Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.
Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSG Entertainment) is a leader in live entertainment. The Company presents or hosts a broad array of events in its diverse collection of venues: New York’s Madison Square Garden, Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre; and The Chicago Theatre. MSG Entertainment is also building a new state-of-the-art venue in Las Vegas, MSG Sphere at The Venetian. In addition, the Company features the original production – the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes – and through Boston Calling Events, produces the Boston Calling Music Festival. The Company’s two regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network and MSG+, deliver a wide range of live sports content and other programming. Also under the MSG Entertainment umbrella is Tao Group Hospitality, with entertainment dining and nightlife brands including: Tao, Marquee, Lavo, Beauty & Essex, Cathédrale, Hakkasan and Omnia. More information is available at www.msgentertainment.com.  




Kulakhmet Decisions McGowan

Tursynbay Kulakhmet won a 10-round unanimous decision over Macaulay McGowan in a super welterweight fight in Wakefield, England.

Kulakhment, 154 lbs of Kazakhstan won on all cards by 99-89 scores and is now 2-0. McGowan, 153 lbs of Manchester, UK is 14-1-1.

Rafferty decisions Hill

Jack Rafferty won an eight-round decision over Tom Hill in a welterweight fight.

Rafferty, 150 lbs of Manchester, ENG won by a 78-75 score and is now 3-0. Hill, 150 lbs is 9-2

Paddy Donovan remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Jumaane Camero in a welterweight bout.

Donovan, 146 lbs of Limerick, IRE won by a score of 60-55 and is now 5-0. Camero, 146 lbs of Mitcham. ENG is 10-7.

n a fight featuring undefeated super welterweights, Jack Martin won a decision over Inder Bassi.

In round three, Bassi started to bleed around his nose. In round’s five and six, Martin began to batter Bassi that opened a cut around the left eye.

Martin, 155.4 lbs of Essex won by a score 59-55 and is 4-0. Bassi, 156 lbs is 2-1.

Lewis Edmonson stayed perfect by pounding out a four-round decision over Scott Williams in a light heavyweight bout.

Williams started bleeding from the nose in the final round.

Edmondson, 173.3 lbs of Southampton, ENG won by a 40-36 score and is now 3-0. Williams, 171 lbs of Manchester, ENG is 0-9.




Wednesday: Tursynbay Kulakhmet-Macaulay McGowan Junior Middleweight Showdown to Headline Afternoon of Boxing LIVE and Exclusively on ESPN+

(November 9, 2020) — Kazakh prodigy Tursynbay Kulakhmet looks to make another statement Wednesday when he faces fellow unbeaten Macaulay McGowan in a 10-round junior middleweight showdown from Production Park Studios in Wakefield, England.
 
Kulakhmet-McGowan headlines a special edition of #MTKFightNight, which will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ starting at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.
 
Kulakhmet (1-0, 1 KO), a 2019 World Championships bronze medalist, made his professional debut Aug. 23 and knocked out former amateur standout Sagadat Rakhmankul in four rounds. At 26 years old, he is taking the express lane to title contention, as the McGowan bout will be contested for the vacant WBC International title. McGowan (14-0-1, 3 KOs), from Manchester, England, has won four straight fights since a 2016 draw.
 
In other action on ESPN+:

  • Top Rank-signed Irish welterweight phenom Paddy Donovan (4-0, 3 KOs), who is trained and managed by former middleweight world champion Andy Lee, will fight Jumaane Camero (10-6, 3 KOs) in a six-rounder. Camero, who has won three consecutive fights, has never been stopped as a professional.
     
  • In an eight-round junior middleweight tilt, Jack “Demolition Man” Rafferty (12-0, 7 KOs) will put his unblemished record on the line against Tom Hill (9-1, 2 KOs). Rafferty and Hill were supposed to fight last month, but Hill’s positive COVID-19 diagnosis postponed the bout.
     
  • MTK Global signee Hassan Azim, a one-time British amateur star, will make his professional debut against 60-fight veteran MJ Hall in a four-rounder at welterweight.
     
  • In a six-round battle of unbeaten junior middleweights, Inder Bassi (2-0) will fight Jack Martin (3-0).
     

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 8.5 million subscribers.
 
Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $5.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) at ESPN.comESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu (ad-supported) — all for just $12.99/month.




Frampton Stops Traynor in 7

Carl Frampton tuned up for a Fall title shot with a 7th round stoppage over Darren Traynor in a lightweight bout at York Hall in London, England,

In round six, Frampton dropped Traynor with a hard left to the body. In round seven, He landed another left to the body, and Traynor waved No-Mas and the fight was over.

Frampton, 134.4 lbs of Belfast, Ireland will now fight Jamel Herring (should Herring be successful on September 5th against Jonathan Oquend) with a record of 28-2 with 16 knockouts. Traynor, 134 1/4 lbs of Scotland is 16-4.

Said Frampton, “I’m happy to get the win, obviously. Far from my best, but I suppose people talk about rounds. I don’t think it’s going to harm me doing the rounds. If I had the chance to take him out in the first round, I would’ve done that.

“It was a better opponent for Herring than the original opponent because I think he was about my height, maybe even a little bit shorter. Darren isn’t a southpaw, but the dimensions are similar. I know I need to be a lot better for Herring. It’s good to get the rounds done. My hands are fine. No issues there. Onward and upward.”

Conlan stops Takoucht in 10th

Michael Conlan remained undefeated by stopping former world title challenger Sofiane Takoucht in the 10th and final round of their featherweight bout.

In round four, Conlan was deducted a point for a low blow. In round five, he was deducted another point for a low blow.

In round 10, Conlan landed a hard combination that hurt Takoucht. Conlan drove him to the ropes and the fight was stopped.

Conlan, 126.25 lbs of Belfast is 14-0 with eight knockouts. Takoucht, 126.6 lbs of France is 35-5.

Sharp Decisions Ofori

Archie Sharp barley remained undefeated by winning a decision over Jeff Ofori in a lightweight bout.

Ofori out-landed Sharp 124-112.

Sharp, 133 lbs of Wailing win by a 96-95 score and is now 19-0. Ofori, 131.1 lbs of London is 10-3-1.

EARLY RESULTS FROM LONDON

Troy Williamson won a hard-fought 10-round unanimous decision over Harry Scarf in a junior middleweight bout.

Williams, 152.8 lbs won by scores of 97-94, 96-94 and 96-95 and is now 15-0-1. Scarf, 153.3 lbs is 8-2.

Paddy Donovan destroyed an overmatched Des Newton in the 1st round of their scheduled six-round welterweight bout

Donovan dropped Newton in the first 30 seconds with a left hand. Donovan finished thing with two massive body shots, with the latter being a left right to the gut that put Newton down and in a lot of pain and the fight was stopped.

Donovan, 146.5 lbs is 4-0 with three knockouts. Newton, 149.3 lbs is 8-16.




March 17: Top Prospects Josue Vargas, Julian Rodriguez, Paddy Donovan and Christopher Zavala added to Michael Conlan’s St. Patrick’s Day Garden Party

NEW YORK CITY (March 6, 2020) — Before Irish sensation Michael “Mick” Conlan enters the ring against Colombian slugger Belmar Preciado in front of a raucous St. Patrick’s Day crowd at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden (ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET), many of the sport’s brightest young stars will look to steal the holiday spotlight.

Josue “The Prodigy” Vargas will make the first defense of his IBF North American 140-pound belt Tuesday, March 17 against Salvador Briceno in a 10-rounder. Vargas (16-1, 9 KOs), from the Bronx, N.Y., has won 10 consecutive bouts since an October 2016 disqualification defeat. Briceno (17-5, 11 KOs), from Guadalajara, Mexico, has won two of three since pushing undefeated prospect Gabriel Flores Jr. the distance last June in Reno, Nev. 

Vargas-Briceno, along with the returns of top prospects Julian “Hammer Hands” RodriguezPaddy “Real Deal” Donovan and Christopher “The Boy” Zavala, will stream live on ESPN+ starting at 5 p.m. ET.

“I’m excited to be fighting in my hometown on such a stacked card,” Vargas said. “It’s an honor to defend my belt in front of my friends, family and biggest supporters. I can’t wait for another spectacular fight night and to put on a show for everyone who will be watching on ESPN+.”

Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs), the fighting pride of Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., will face former top prospect Dannie Williams (24-3, 18 KOs) in an eight-rounder at super lightweight. Rodriguez fought three times in the last five months of 2019 after nearly two years out of the ring due to assorted injuries. Williams, from Saint Louis, returned to the ring last April following more than five years away from it. He last fought in January, notching a 10-round decision over Andre Keys (12-1 at the time).

Donovan (3-0, 2 KOs), a 13-time national amateur champion from Limerick, Ireland, will be making his American debut in a six-round welterweight contest against Gregory Young (4-3, 1 KO). Donovan is trained and managed by former middleweight world champion Andy Lee.

“I can’t wait for my U.S. debut. I learned so much from training alongside Tyson Fury recently,” Donovan said. “I’m taking that experience into this fight. Thank you to Top Rank for putting me on this card. Conlan’s St. Patrick’s Day cards are always exciting, and I’m happy to be part of the festivities.”

Zavala (6-0, 3 KOs), a 20-year-old from Long Beach, Calif., will fight Rennard Oliver (7-2-3, 0 KOs) in a six-rounder at super featherweight. Oliver has never been knocked out as a pro and is coming off a draw against Raul Manrique Jr. (4-0 at the time).

In other action on the undercard stream:

  • Feargal McCrory (11-0, 5 KOs), one of Ireland’s top young prospects, will make his United States debut against the durable Juan Tapia (9-3, 3 KOs) in a six-rounder at super featherweight. Tapia, who has fought the likes of current WBO featherweight world champion Shakur Stevenson, has never been knocked out as a pro.
     
  • Matthew Tinker (2-0, 2 KOs), from Scarborough, England, will face Esai Herrera (2-1, 1 KO) in a four-rounder at light heavyweight. Tinker has scored a pair of first-round knockouts to begin his career. 

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets priced at $200, $100, $70, $40 and $30 (not including applicable fees) are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.MSG.com.

For more information, visit www.toprank.comwww.espn.com/boxing; Facebook:facebook.com/trboxing; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing and twitter.com/ESPNRingside; IG:instagram.com/espnringside/

About ESPN
ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment enterprise, features more than 50 assets – nine U.S. television networks, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN International, ESPN The Magazine and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the leading direct-to-consumer sports streaming service from Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown quickly to 7.6 million subscribers in less than two years, offering fans thousands of live events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, as well as premium editorial content. 

Programming on ESPN+ includes exclusive UFC and Top Rank boxing events, thousands of college sports events (including football and basketball) from more than a dozen sports at 20 conferences, hundreds of MLB and NHL games, top domestic and international soccer (Serie A, MLS, FA Cup, Bundesliga – beginning in 2020, EFL Championship and Carabao Cup, Eredivisie), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby and cricket, exclusive ESPN+ Original series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films.

Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) through the ESPN App, (on mobile and connected devices), ESPN.com or ESPNplus.com. It is also available as part of a bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu (ad-supported), and ESPN+ ­— all for just $12.99/month.




Harris stops Barnes in 4

Jay Harris remained undefeated with a 4th round stoppage over Paddy Barnes in a flyweight bout at Ulster Hall in Belfast, Ireland

In round three, Barnes was cut over the right eye. Seconds later the two had a furious exchange in the center of the ring. With a minute to go in the round, Barnes landed a perfect left hook to the body that Barnes on the canvas. In round four, Harris landed a hard right to the head that sent Barnes down for the 10-count at 2:14.

Harris is now 17-0 with nine knockouts. Barnes is 6-3.

Sean McComb won an eight-round decision over Emilano Rodriguez in a junior welterweight bout.

McComb, 141 lbs of Belfast IRE won by a score of 78-73, and is now 9-0. Rodriguez, 139 lbs of Tedonia, ARG is 23-6.

Former WBO Lightweight champion Terry Flanagan defeated Michael Ansah by 4th round disqualification in a scheduled eight-round junior welterweight bout.

Ansah was deducted a point in round three for hitting on the break. he committed the same offense in the next round, and the bout was stopped at 2:58.

Flanagan, 139 lbs of Manchester, UK is 35-2. ANsah, 135 lbs of Accra, GHA is 17-10-2.

Paddy Donovan made a successful pro debut with a one-punch knockout over Arturo Lopez in round one of their scheduled four round welterweight bout.

Donovan landed a perfect left hand that put Lopez flat on his back at 1:16 of round one.

Donovan, 147 lbs of Limerick, IRE is 1-0 with one knockout. Lopez, 144 lbs of Girona, MEX is 5-14-3.

Seanie Duffy remained perfect by pounding out a four-round decision over Edwin Tellez in a lightweight fight.

Duffy, 135 lbs of Ireland won by a 40-36 score, and is now 3-0. Tellez, 131 lbs of Nicaragua is 12-58-5.

Pierce O’Leary won his pro debut with a four-round decision over Oscar Amador in a welterweight fight.

O’Leary, 143 lbs of Ireland won by a 40-36 score, and is now 1-0. Amador, 145 lbs of Nicaragua is 10-23.




Top Rank Signs Irish Amateur Sensation Paddy Donovan

(June 20, 2019) — One of Ireland’s premier amateurs, 20-year-old Paddy Donovan, has signed a multi-year professional contract with Top Rank.

Donovan, a southpaw from Limerick, will turn pro later this year and compete as a welterweight.

Managed and trained by former middleweight world champion Andy Lee, Donovan went 161-5 in the unpaid ranks and won 13 national titles in his homeland.

“I’m honored to sign with Top Rank. They are the best in boxing,” Donovan said. “My goal is to become a world champion, and there is no one better than Top Rank to help me achieve my goal.”

Said Lee: “Paddy is a special talent. He has all the skills and character to become a world champion. Top Rank’s record of taking amateur boxers and guiding them into world champions is second to none. We couldn’t be with a better company.”

In addition to his 13 national titles, Donovan won a pair of championships at the Haringey Box Cup, one of Europe’s most prestigious annual amateur boxing tournaments. He also captured a silver medal at the 2015 AIBA World Junior Championships in St. Petersburg, Russia. Rather than compete for a spot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Donovan has elected to get a head start on his professional career.