Eric 'Lilywhite Lightning' Donovan capped a brilliant night of boxing at 'Clash of the Titans' on Saturday to claim the Irish featherweight title.
The Athy native stopped a game Stephen McAfee in the fourth round after a vicious body shot called an early halt to the bout at a packed National Stadium.
The pressure was all on Donovan heading into the fight given his decorated amateur career but he lived up to those expectations with a stellar performance which he expects to kickstart his professional career.
Speaking to Off The Ball after the fight, he said: "I'm feeling good. It's a great achievement for me and a great moment for me and my family.
"I'm happy with the performance as well. It was nice to get a knock-out win via body shot. What can I say? It was a brilliant night for me overall.
"It was so important [to get the win] - there was a lot at stake. I feel like I've gotten a second chance but this was like a finale of my second chance. 'Is he good enough? Let's give him the platform - let's give him the main event. An Irish title [fight] and put an unbeaten boxer in front of him who is a bit of a puncher. He's been training with two competent coaches: Kenneth Egan and Joe Clifford for the last 12 weeks - he should be ready'.
"You know, there was a lot of expectations of myself so I wanted to deliver. I knew going out here tonight that I didn't wanted to get in and have a dull shut-out points win. I really wanted to shine. I feel like I did but I feel like there's more left in me."
Donovan is Athy's first Elite Senior Champion and now becomes the town's first professional champion but he's not content to stop there: "I'm enjoying boxing and loving it. The spark is there. I want to become the best that I can. I think there's more in the tank for me to achieve...I believe I can become a European Champion."
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