Donovan dismisses pro speculation

Eric Donovan has dismissed speculation that he is turning pro following his withdrawal from 2014 National Elite Championships, which begin tonight at the National Stadium in Dublin.

Donovan had registered in the 64kg class but a shoulder injury has halted the 2010 European bronze medallist’s ambitions of claiming his sixth Irish crown.

However, the 28-year-old St Michael’s Athy BC man said he will be back in the ring – in amateur boxing – when he is fully fit.

“The shoulder injury was a factor, but I have other commitments also and I didn’t have the time to reach the required physical condition for one of the most competitive championships in the world,” he said.

Six male belts — flyweight, bantam, light-welter, middle, heavy and super-heavy — will lie vacant at the championships after the holders suffered injuries (Ross Hickey), moved up a weight (Michael Conlan and Declan Geraghty), didn’t enter (Jason Quigley) or turned pro (Tommy McCarthy and Sean Turner).

Hughie Myers, Sean McComb, Adam Nolan and Joe Ward are the defending light-fly, light, welter and light-heavy champions.

Myers claimed his first title last year after two-time Olympic medallist Paddy Barnes pulled out with the flu. But Barnes, the 2010 European and Commonwealth champion, is back at light-fly and will be gunning for his seventh Elite belt.

For Irish head coach Billy Walsh, a seven-time Elite champion “back in the old days, last century”, as some members of his squad jokingly point out, the championships provide an opportunity to enjoy some world-class boxing.

“The Nationals are the springboard for the Olympics and World and European Championships and our medallists at those tournaments started out winning a national title, said Walsh.

“For some winning a title is the pinnacle of their careers. There will be a lot of world-class talent in action over the next three weekends and nothing will come easy even for our Olympic and World medallists.”