TG4 may have pulled off a promotional coup by selecting their pundits for their return to professional boxing this weekend.
The terrestrial television station, which has been the home of the National Elites final night in recent years, airs a professional boxing card for the first time since March 2019 on Saturday.
The Irish-language channel airs Eric Donovan’s vacant EU title fight with Khalil El Hadri from the Europa Hotel in Belfast, as well as a fight card featuring Tommy McCarthy, Owen O’Neill, Conor Quinn and the Clash of Cavan among Dominic Donegan and Owen. Duffy.
Fresh from his time in camp with Joseph Parker alongside Tyson Fury, Top Rank star Paddy Donovan confirmed he would provide his opinion overnight and Irish-boxing.com may reveal his former amateur rival Kieran Molloy will join. to the.
It will be the first time Westerners have been on TV together since the highly anticipated and massively contested 2019 National Elite Final, which was appropriately shown on TG4.
It will be a very interesting viewing and will have fans speculating about a possible rematch in the pros. In fact, no doubt some will suggest that it would be a great fight that TG4 would benefit from airing, and that may very well be what the powers that be on the station are hoping for.
Since Molloy joined Donovan on the Top Ranks books late last year, a possible battle between Limerick and Galway has been discussed. The fighters are at different weights today and at different stages of their careers: Molloy is just starting out and Donovan is ready for a big move to the next level, but it’s one that Molloy’s manager, Jamie Conlan, says Top Rank has mentioned. for the future.
It’s also a topic that Irish-boxing.com recently raised with both of them. Both are interested in repeating, but both have different time frames in mind.
EU bronze medalist Molloy suggests he’s not one for now or any time soon, suggesting there could be a big All-Irish clash globally in the future.
“That is a possible future fight,” Molloy told Irish-boxing.com.
“I’m going to take it fight by fight. I know where I’m going to be, I’m going to be at the top and if he’s there with me or in my way at any stage, we’re going to have to make that fight happen.
“That could definitely be a great fight in the future, but we’ll have to take it fight by fight, hopefully we’ll both get to the world championship level. It will be a great fight for the world title. If he’s on the same level as me when I reach world level, then it’s a great fight.”
Andy Lee trained Real Deal, whose talented brother Edward could make his Irish debut on the bill, would have him as soon as possible if that were possible.
“I heard something about what he said, he said he hopes he gets to the top so we can fight, I’m open to that, or can we make it happen sooner?
“I’m sure it won’t be too hard to pull off as we both signed with Top Rank,” Donovan told Irish-boxing.com.
“Regardless of when the fight takes place, Donovan believes there is only one outcome.
“I think it would take him into deep water and stop him in his tracks. I think I will beat everyone I fight. I plan to be one of the best in Irish history. Now I am a different animal and I am improving.”
Donovan and Molloy aren’t the only two to weigh in on the night, TG4 has staged another coup and will also feature recent world title challenger Michael Conlan in the studio.
Elite National Championship finalist Antoine “Toto” Ó Gríofa will provide co-coms.
