Paddy Donovan, the southpaw amateur boxer from Limerick, Ireland, has signed a multi-year contract with Top Rank and is expected to make his professional debut later this year.
Donovan owns a lengthy amateur record of 161-5 and holds 13 national titles. The 20-year-old is managed and trained by Andy Lee, a former middleweight world champion in his own right.
"Paddy is a special talent," said his trainer. "He has all the skills and character to become a world champion. Top Rank's record of taking amateur boxers and guiding them into world champions is second to none. We couldn't be with a better company."
Donovan has earned championships outside of Ireland as well, including two titles at the Haringey Box Cup and a silver medal at the 2015 International Boxing Association World Junior Championships in Russia. With such a pedigree, Donovan could very well have battled it out for a spot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but has opted instead to compete in the professional boxing circuit.