LIMERICK, Ireland (February 23, 2025) – Rising welterweight contender Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (14-0, 11 KOs) and his head trainer/co-manager, former world middleweight champion “Irish” Andy Lee, have a unique relationship and numerous similarities.
As they go through final preparations for this Saturday’s “Pride Of Point,” arguably the greatest All-Irish pro boxing fight of all-time, against arch-rival Lewis “The Croc” Crocker (20-0, 11 KOs), it’s interesting to chart Donovan’s boxing career compared to Lee’s.
“Point Of Pride”, presented by Matchroom Boxing, will be streamed worldwide on DAZN live from The SSE Arena (Odyssey Arena) in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Former world middleweight champion Lee has been where the 26-year-old Donovan aspires to reach, heading towards a world title shot, and the 40-year-old Lee’s invaluable experience and wisdom could very well be the deciding factors versus Crocker.
The winner of this 12-round main event in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) world title eliminator will become the IBF’s No. 1, mandatory challenger for current IBF World Welterweight Champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs – IBF) or Eimantas Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs – WBA), who are scheduled to fight for the unified IBF and WBA crowns on April 12 in Atlantic City.
“The keys for Paddy are for him to just be himself: box smart and be precise, use his skills, punch when Crocker punches — at the same time — and go for the finish when the opportunity comes,” Lee added. “It’s a great fight between two young fighters. Both are big punchers; both will be going for the knockout.
“It’s important for Paddy to not get emotionally involved in the fight, because it’s a big rivalry and the fight is in our country. There will be a lot of fans and support coming for both sides. It’s important for Paddy to disengage, from my experience, from all of that and just focus on the fight and enjoy the night.”
In addition to being southpaws, Donovan and Lee both come from the Irish Travellers community, hail from Limerick County in Ireland, and were celebrated Irish amateur boxers. Born in Ennis, Ireland, Donovan was a 13-time Irish National Champion who had a 166-7 record, while Lee represented Ireland in the 2004 Olympics.
Lee (35-3-1, 24 KOs) was 28 when he had his first world title shot against Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., and 30 when Lee captured the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Middleweight World Champion, knocking out previously undefeated Matvey Korobov (24-0) in the sixth round. Donovan is ahead of Lee’s pace heading into his showdown with Crocker.
“My relationship with Andy feels more than just fighter-trainer,” Donovan explained. “We have a very close bond. He’s put me under his wing since the day I met him, guiding me in all the right ways. Andy has made it like a journey, inside and outside the ring. To be in a position that I am in today, fighting in a world title eliminator, and two years younger than when Andy became world champion, is a great feeling. Having Andy in the corner is a big bonus for any fighter and, for me, to have him in my corner is a big advantage.”
“Me and Paddy have been together a long time, since 2019, and it’s been great to see him mature as a fighter and person. I’m proud of the man and fighter he is,” Lee countered. “We are very, very close. I think. I’m his mentor. I’ve been mentoring him since the day I started training him.
“I’ve been bringing him to all the big events with me for big fights with Tyson Fury (Lee’s cousin and a fellow Irish Traveller) and Joseph Parker. Paddy has been with me in the dressing rooms for those fights. I’ve been preparing him for when he would be in the situation when it was his turn to be the headliner. Now, he is headlining. Even though he hasn’t had that experience yet, he’s been at all of those big fights, and he’ll know what to expect.”
Lee, of course, resettled in the United States in Detroit early in his pro career to be trained at the famed Kronk Gym by Hall of Famer Emanuel Steward (2006-2012), concluding his career with Adam Booth (2013-2019) as his head trainer after Steward passed away.
“I will be wearing the red and yellow Kronk colors on my trunks and robe (vs. Crocker) in honor of Andy,” Donovan added. “It’s a little bonus on top because it’s the 19th anniversary of when Andy started training with Manny. I’m sure Andy is proud of me.”
Keith Sullivan, a New York City attorney and former Deputy Commissioner for the New York State Boxing Commission, co-manages Donovan with Lee, who hired Sullivan as his boxing lawyer back in 2009.
“I think the world of Andy Lee, both as a trainer and person,” Sullivan commented. “He’s more of a cultured Renaissance Man than a typical gym-rat boxing guy. He doesn’t always reveal that side of himself, he’s too humble to do so, and that’s helped shape Andy’s insightful analysis of fighters, fights and potential match ups. In that respect, I’d put him up against anyone in the business. Andy is up there with the great minds we’ve seen over the ages in the sport. In addition to his highly demanding training sessions and boxing techniques, his boxing analysis is a great asset for his fighters.
“Andy’s relationship with Paddy runs deep. It’s like watching an older brother mentoring his younger brother, but at times it goes even deeper, like kindred spirits walking towards a common goal. It’s impressive to observe. Paddy has tremendous trust and confidence in Andy. A fighter needs to have that total certainty in his training preparation and the advice he gets from the trainer. Andy understands the most important commodity in the sport – people. He understands the human element. He is demanding of his fighter but treats them with respect. Andy knows how to communicate, motivate and get the best out of a boxer. Very often he trains right alongside the fighters, literally getting in the trenches with them doing road work, cold plunges, cardio, brutal ab workouts, weight, floor exercises…you name it. Andy gets shoulder-to-shoulder to bond with and motivate his charge.
“Paddy knows and appreciates that he has a passionate, dedicated and highly respected trainer in Andy to mentor his career and guide him in the corner. That adds to Paddy’s confidence and is part of the reason Paddy is in this opportunity so early in his career. For me, it’s a true honor to be a part of this team.”
Donovan is dedicating this fight to Pieta, using his boxing platform to promote the suicide prevention charity that provides mental health services throughout Ireland. Paddy has lost two relatives to suicide. The Pieta Crisis Helpline, 1-800-247-247, offers crisis intervention support, 24 hours a day 365 days a year, to anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or engaging in self-harm and also support those bereaved through suicide.