Professional boxer Eric Donovan has revealed that he is being coached by former WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee ahead of his 'Celtic Clash 4' fight in December.
The Athy featherweight has enlisted the help of Lee for the defence of his BUI Celtic belt against Spaniard Juancho 'el Pitbull de Polygon' Gonzalez.
"I was looking around at coaches in Ireland and I couldn’t find one that I really wanted to work with," Donovan told RTÉ 2FM's Game On.
"Andy is my friend but he has always been a role model for me too, I've always loved his style he’s a south paw, I'm a south paw and I said Andy can you give us a dig out for this fight.
"He duly obliged, he is not retired, he is still looking for a big fight, he has a lot to offer he is still a big name. I’m learning loads from him, he is brilliant, I’d love to continue in the future but we are taking it one fight at a time."
Donovan won the belt at the National Stadium in September, earning a comprehensive points decision over veteran Welsh journeyman Dai Davies. It was his first professional belt.
Donovan dominated all eight rounds but is expecting a much tougher fight next time out against Gonzalez.
"He’s a stocky guy, he boxed Jono Carroll earlier in the year and Jono Carroll beat him on points over eight rounds.
He’s the first opponent that I will be fighting who has a winning record, he has 11 wins and six defeats.
"He boxed the European champion, he lasted nine rounds it was another Spaniard. It was a close fight, he was in it a lot but he was stopped in the ninth round."
The 'Lilywhite Lightning' who is a The former European amateur bronze medallist, has big plans for 2018 and they include a shot at a European title.
"I one hundred percent believe I will be European champion, that’s the goal I set for myself and if I didn’t think I was going to be I'd quit now and look somewhere else.
"You have to set targets, I don’t want to be a professional boxer for a hobby, it’s not a nice hobby."
