Donovan set to fight Ritson on Taylor vs. Catterall undercard

RISING Irish star Paddy Donovan will take another step up in class when fighting Lewis Ritson on May 25 in Leeds.

The fight, which will take place at welterweight, is set to form part of the undercard of Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall II, sources today informed Boxing News.

Twenty-five-year-old Donovan, currently 13-0 (10), has dazzled to date as a pro, losing barely a round, much less a fight. He has stopped each of his last four opponents inside the distance and boasts wins over the likes of Sam O’Maison, Danny Ball and, most recently, Williams Andres Herrera. Still only 25, he appears to possess the talent and marketability to become a big name in Irish boxing.

Ritson, meanwhile, is a former British lightweight champion who has been competing at light-welterweight of late, where his fortunes have been mixed. There have been good wins there for Ritson, notably against Dejan Zlaticanin and Robbie Davies Jr, but there have also been defeats which have shown the limit of his potential. These include setbacks against Francesco Patera, who outpointed the Newcastle man in a European title fight, Jeremias Nicolas Ponce, who stopped him in 10 rounds, and Ohara Davies, who stopped him in nine. Now 23-3 (13), this fight against Donovan could represent Ritson’s final roll of the dice.

Lewis Ritson (James Chance/Getty Images)