Paddy Donovan, mandatory challenger for the IBF world welterweight title, will fight Belfast’s Tyrone McKenna on the undercard of the Katie Taylor’s farewell bout at Croke Park on 5 September.
Taylor is taking on France’s undefeated Floran Pili as she brings the curtain down on a distinguished career in front of an anticipated crowd of 80,000.
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The Irish fighter will be bidding to become a three-time undisputed champion with the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO super-lightweight world titles on the line in Dublin.
Limerick boxer Donovan has twice lost to Lewis Crocker in his bids to claim the IBF welterweight crown and recently saw off Karen Chukhadzhian in a title eliminator in Germany in May.
Meanwhile, Taylor’s cousin, former UFC star-turned-boxer Molly McCann, will look to extend her winning start to life in the professional ranks when she faces Yorkshire’s Sylwia Doligala.
McCann has won her first four fights since making the switch to boxing.
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Irish heavyweight Thomas Carty will face English opponent Dave Allen in the chief support contest.
The Doncaster man tasted defeat against Arslanbek Makhmudov and Filip Hrgovic but returned to winning ways earlier this month with a points win over Ross McGuigan.
Carty beat German Skobenko in his most recent fight in March a year after his only career defeat to date when he suffered a knee injury in a contest with Dajuan Calloway in America.
Unbeaten Coleraine fighter Matthew Boreland will take on Liverpool super-bantamweight Joe McGrail as he aims to secure the WBA Continental Gold belt.
Undefeated Emmet Brennan will meet Taylor Bevan at super middleweight, with Dublin’s Paul Ryan and Paddy Gallagher from Belfast matched for a middleweight bout.
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Dubliners Adam Olaniyan and Bobbi Floo will also be part of the support bill.
“With so much Irish talent on the undercard, it will be a special, party atmosphere at Croke Park before 80,000 fans get behind the great Katie Taylor for her final ever fight,” said Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn.
“I love the Allen-Carty fight. Two experienced heavyweights, in a make-or-break fight, out to score an almighty win. Plus, Paddy Donovan fresh from his recent heroics in Germany looks to underline his status as Ireland’s number one welterweight – and underline why he is next in line to challenge for the IBF crown.
“Molly McCann looked great in her recent win in Liverpool and she has a huge year ahead. But she will be over the moon to be on this card, especially with her cousin Katie Taylor headlining.”
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