Eric Donovan is the new European Union super featherweight champion after a thriller tonight in Belfast.
The Kildare southpaw outclassed French star Khalil El Hadri at the Europa Hotel, live on TG4.
Hurt early, Donovan fought back and managed to establish his boxing in the second half to win enough rounds to get past ‘EHK’.
A former elite national champion in the amateurs and seen as the golden child of French boxing when he turned professional, El Hadri’s career took a turn last year when he lost his French title to the fighter Anthony Riviere. Rebuilding in recent months, the Parisian came to Belfast looking to reignite his career.
Donovan, for his part, has had a career that has taken many turns. A five-time Irish elite champion and EU and European bronze medalist, the super featherweight from Kildare turned pro. Following Celtic and Irish title victories, Donovan lost to big names in Zelfa Barrett and Robeisy Ramirez and was readjusted for tonight’s fight.
As the favorite in a big fight for the first time in a while, Donovan started off well, but it wasn’t easy.
Extremely cautious to begin with, Donovan perhaps made it through the opener with a few forays, although El Hadri seemed comfortable enough.
Opening in the second, El Hadri targeted Donovan’s stomach with some hard shots before a reply in the Irishman’s final moments that tagged the visitor hard.
Donovan showed off his manual speed early in the third, sending volleys of shots in El Hadri’s direction. Walking into a rut, Donovan’s lefty southpaw was finding a regular home on El Hadri’s chin in what was a decisive round for lily white.
El Hadri roared back in the fourth, surprising Donovan with an incisive counterattack, but Kildare’s southpaw responded with a flurry of shots. With the Frenchman on the front foot, Donovan looked to fight back, but El Hadri caught him squarely and sent him into the ropes, where he received a hash count that changed the face of the fight.
It was tight in the fifth round, but Donovan was forced to work very hard just to keep his head above water as El Hadri tried his hand at sharp shots.
Cut in the sixth, Donovan continued to land with his left, but the blow of the round was a short right counter from El Hadri that staggered the local favorite.
Much calmer in the seventh, Donovan’s quick hands and combinations probably put him up 10-9 in what looked to be a close fight.
Increasingly exhausting in the eighth, Donovan continued to land combinations but with little weight, while El Hadri began to find his range with hurtful shots.
A brilliant round nine for Donovan saw him fight off a strong start from El Hadri and stop the Frenchman in his tracks for the first time with a sustained barrage of punches.
Responding viciously, El Hadri came out firing in the 10th and Donovan was hurt early. Knocking Athy’s man from rope to rope, Donovan did well to relent, never mind firing back like he did. Bloodied and on shaky legs, Donovan saw the round, but he still had a long way to go.
Both exhausted after their exploits in the tenth, the eleventh round was cautious and perhaps outmatched by Donovan’s fight management, who finished stronger.
On the knife edge in the final stanza, El Hadri was the aggressor as they both celebrated at the bell but we went to cards without any certainty.
The cards themselves were delayed and misread, but more importantly, Donovan was confirmed the winner and crowned the new European Union super featherweight champion.
The result sees Donovan improve his record to 16(8)-2(2) while the impressive and disappointed El Hadri drops to 13(7)-2(0).
A career goal achieved, Donovan will now undoubtedly look to the winner of the upcoming vacant European title fight between Spain’s Juan Felix Gomez and Romania’s Catalin Ionescu. First, though, he will be looking forward to the birth of his child with his wife Laura Cusack next month.
