Fighting at Croke Park in front of 80,000 fans on Katie Taylor’s farewell card is a dream come true for IBF No. 1 welterweight Paddy Donovan

 

Credit: Bob Trieger - Full Court Press 

Press Release: August 20, 2026 By Bob Trieger Full Court Press - LIMERICK, Ireland 

– Coming off his successful performance in International Boxing Federation’s Title Eliminator this past May in Germany, the new IBF No. 1, mandatory challenger 

Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan

 couldn’t be happier or more excited to be fighting September 5

th

 at famed Croke Park on Irish boxing icon 

Katie Taylor’

s farewell fight card, “Once Upon a Time,” in Dublin.

Taylor (25-1, 6 KOs) faces undefeated 

Flora Pili

 (12-0, 2 KOs), of France, for the Undisputed World Super Lightweight Championship, while Limerick’s Donovan (15-2-1, 11 KOs) takes on 

Tyrone “The Mighty Celt” McKenna

 (5-6-1, 8 KOs), of Belfast, in a 10-round match.   “Once Upon a Time, “ which will be streamed live worldwide on DAZN, sold-out in 30-minutes.

It also marks the first professional boxing event held at Croke Park in 54 years, since “The Greatest” – 

Muhammad Ali

 – stopped 

Alvin Lewis

 in the 11

th

 round of their heavyweight fight there

. Donovan vs. McKenna

 is the lone scheduled All-Irish match-up on the Sept. 5

th

 main card, the first of its kind at Croke Park in a century, since promoter 

Jim Rice

 held a pro boxing event there on July 10, 1926, which featured several All-Irish fights.

“I am a proud Irishman and to fight in front of 80,000 people is a dream come true for me,” the charismatic Donovan said. “Once this card was announced, I told 

Andy

 (

Lee

, Donovan’s head trainer/co-manager) and 

Keith

 (

Sullivan

, co-manager/lawyer) to make it happen. Every single fighter wants to fight in front of 80,000 people, especially with Croke Park being a historical stadium for national sports, and it is a dream for me to participate and show fans around the world with 80,000 Irish fans in the stadium cheering. I’m really looking forward to it.

“This will be my third time fighting on a Katie Taylor card and it gets even more special every single time, none better than this one. Katie has led by example through the years and she’s a fighter I’ve looked up to. And to be a part of her last fight, here in Ireland is fitting. I can’t wait for fight night!”

Taylor will retire after this fight, leaving a void in terms of the contemporary face of Irish boxing. An impressive victory for Donovan on Sept. 5, followed by a world title challenge, could insert Donovan into that position.

“Katie Taylor is one of the greatest athletes Ireland has ever had; she’s the greatest female fighter of all time,” a respectful Donovan added. “She has already put Irish boxing on the map. Katie has put us in the history books. How great is that to be the greatest female fighter who has ever, and to be from our small country? Katie is a national treasure to us. It’s a proud moment for Katie to be fighting in front of 80,000 fans and I am so happy and grateful to get my opportunity and chance to fight on the same card. I wish her all the best, but she will be remembered in Irish folklore forever.”

Paddy Donovan (Left) Katie Taylor (Right) Credit: Bob Trieger - Full Court Press

“Fighting on Katie's retirement card in Croke Park before 80,000 people is exactly the kind of stage Paddy Donovan belongs on,” Sullivan commented. “Paddy has established himself as one of Ireland’s most exciting fighters, and now he gets the opportunity to perform in front of a massive home crowd on a truly historic night. We’ve always believed Paddy has the talent to become a world champion, and nights like this are another important step toward that goal. I expect Paddy to put on a spectacular performance and remind everyone why he is one of the brightest stars in Irish boxing.”

Donovan is facing a tough, experienced opponent in McKenna, who he knows, respects and isn’t looking past. A former WBC Inter-Continental Champion, the battle-tested McKenna has been in tough against the likes of 

Jack Catterall

, 

Roger Progais

, 

Harlem Eubank

 and Paddy’s archrival, 

Lewis Crocker

.

“Tyrone McKenna has nothing to lose in this fight,” Donovan added. “This is potentially Tyrone’s last fight, so he’s going to give it his all fighting in front of 80,000 Irish fans. Tyrone is a proud Irishman. I’m sure he’s taking this fight seriously, because he’s going to be in the ring with a young, very hungry, dangerous fighter. Let’s enjoy the moment and put it all on the line and give the Irish fans something to really enjoy.

“Tyrone and I have mutual respect for each other. We go way back to when I started my professional journey in 2019, when Tyrone McKenna was my sparring partner for many years while he was at the peak of his career. I helped him and he helped me along the way. He will bring a lot of experience in the ring on September 5

th

. I’m looking forward to seeing how good Tyrone can be. It’s a great matchup and I’m looking forward to it.”

Donovan is eager to take on the elite of one of boxing’s hottest divisions and its “name” champions, but, first, he needs to get past McKenna.

“The welterweight division is a great place right now with some amazing champions

. 

(Americans)

 Ryan “King Ry” Garcia

 (WBC, 25-2, 20 KOs) for one, 

Devin “The Dream” Haney 

(WBO, 33-0, 15 KOs), 

Rolly Romero

 (17-2, 13 KOs) and (Australian) 

Liam Paro 

(IBF, 28-1, 16 KOs),” Donovan noted. “Once I capture the IBF title, I want to fight the best because I believe I’m one of the best fighters in the world. I will fight them anywhere, anytime. I’ll be ready. They will never see a storm like what is going to come their way once I capture the IBF title. I believe I can beat every single one of them. I’m not worried and don’t care about anyone as long as I get my opportunity to fight them. I will take those fights with both hands.”

A cracker of a fight is on the horizon, and more happy days are certainly coming for Paddy Donovan.

Material and Photos Courtesy of: Bob Trieger Full Court Press  Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

World Title Contender Darius Fulghum Targets Diego Pacheco and other top Super Middleweights

 

Credit: Golden Boy Promotions/Cris Esqueda

Press Release: August 9, 2026 By Bob Trieger - Full Court Press - 

LOS ANGELES   – Houston-based, world-rated super middleweight  Darius “DFG” Fulghum  (15-1-1, 13 KOs) is targeting undefeated  Diego Pacheco  (26-0, 13 KOs) among others to position himself as a legitimate world title challenger for reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) World Super Middleweight Champion  Jaime Munguia  (46-2, 35 KOs). For his last fight this past May 22nd, the 29-year-old Fulghum shifted training camp from Houston to the state-of-the-art Brickhouse Boxing Club in North Hollywood, California, for multiple issues that needed attention after his previous two disappointing performances (0-1-1). In addition to getting elite sparring, Fulghum worked with one of boxing’s leading young trainers,  Julian Chua , who also trains 2-division world champion  Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez ( and WBA No. 1 ranked super flyweight  John “Scrappy” Ramirez , as well as unbeaten prospect  Eric Priest  (16-0-1, 8 KOs). Fulghum’s longtime coach,  Darnell Pierce , remains in Darius’ corner as head trainer and he worked many of Fulghum’s training sessions at Brickhouse. The results were so positive that the WBA No. 5-rated Fulghum is training again at Brickhouse Boxing Club in advance of his next fight. Fulghum stopped Cuban  Yoanki Urrutia  (17-2, 7 KOs) in the third round. “My focus was the most important thing that I improved,” Fulghum explained. “Brickhouse put me in an environment where every day I’m surrounded by people who force me to level up. Physically I’ve always had the tools. The difference now is I’m mentally locked in, and that’s what people are going to see from here on out.” Pacheco’s last fight was on July 18 in Carson, California, in which he knocked out  Immanuwel Aleem  (22-4-3, 14 KOs) in round eleven. Pacheco is ranked in all 4 major sanctioning bodies – WBO #3, WBC #4, WBA #6 and IBF #13 – as well as No. 6 by  Ring Magazine . “I have a lot of respect for Diego,” Fulghum said. “I was offered that fight but they decided to go with Aleem as their opponent instead. I was disappointed that I didn’t get that fight, because I believe I would’ve exposed a lot of things. Again, I think he is a talented fighter, but I know what I’ve done, and I don’t think he’s ever been in the ring with anybody like me. He’s fought a lot of good guys, but none with my style. If we fight, people are going to see the difference. This will be an entertaining fight with lots of action and my hometown of Houston will show up and show out for this one. “Diego has a good jab and he’s well rounded. But his team has matched him smartly because most of the guys he’s fought play right into his strengths. I’m not one of those guys. I’d like to fight Diego next. It would be a great fight and position me for a world title shot. There are other ‘name’ super middleweights like (WBA No. 1) Bek ( Bektemir Melikuziev ) but he may be fighting Munguia next. I’d fight (WBA No. 3,  Jose Armando )  Resendiz  and (WBA No. 4,  Jermall )  Charlo . ‘DFG’ is ready for the test!”

Credit: Golden Boy Promotions/Cris Esqueda

Fulghum was a decorated amateur boxer who was ranked No. 1 in the USA as a heavyweight, but as a professional he’s fought strictly as a super middleweight. He was the 2018 National Golden Gloves Tournament Champion, and he also won the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. He earned a nursing degree from Prairie View A & M University during COVID-19.

Fulghum is working with 3 Point Management (3 PM), which has a growing stable of gifted boxers former including WBA & WBO Cruiserweight and WBO Super Middleweight World Champion 

Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez 

(48-248-2, 30 KOs), WBA No. 1-rated world super flyweight title contender 

John “Scrappy” Ramirez 

(17-1, 9 KOs), former WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion 

Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk 

(21-3, 17 KOs), former WBA Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight Champion, Canadian 

Kareem “Supreme” Hackett 

(13-1, 7 KOs), Armenian featherweight 

Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan 

(23-6, 17 KOs), and German junior welterweight 

Simon “Saucy” Vollmer 

(7-0, 3 KOs).

Material Courtesy of: Bob Trieger Full Court Press/ Photos Courtesy of Golden Boy Promotions/Cris Esqueda Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved

Gilbert ‘Tonka’ Kabamba Fighting For A USA Boxing berth in the 2028 LA Olympics

 

Credit: USA Boxing

Press Release: August 6, 2026 By Bob Trieger - Full Court Press - 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (August 6, 2026) –  Olympic boxing hopeful  Gilbert “Tonka” Kabamba  has traveled a long, arduous journey on a mission to become the first super heavyweight representative of Massachusetts to go for Olympic gold. The Bay State has had three world boxing heavyweight champions (no super heavyweight division in the pro ranks), but neither  John L. Sullivan  (Roxbury section of Boston),  Rocky Marciano  (Brockton) nor  John Ruiz  was a U. S. Olympian. A native of the Democratic Republic of The Congo, Kabamba never boxed until he resettled in the Boston district of Dorchester, and he’s been making up for lost time in the Sweet Science ever since. He is eligible to become a member of the USA Boxing Olympic Team because he became a U.S. citizen in 2023. “I’m home,” the 6’ 2”, 250-pound Kabamba said. “I’m where I’m supposed to be.” Kabamba left the Congo during the long running conflict there, his family living 7 years in a Uganda refugee camp before moving to Boston in November of 2013. He was a star football player on the 2-time Massachusetts, Division One Super Bowl championship Everett High team, and when football didn’t work out for him at Merrimack College (North Andover, MA), Kabamba found boxing. “I went to a boxing gym and just started boxing,” the 25-year-old explained. “I didn’t have football anymore but I was an athlete. It’s been quite a ride with ups and downs, but I stayed with it. I’ll do anything to come back with an Olympic gold medal. I know who I am!” The boxing world is gradually discovering who Kabamba is and his next goal is to earn a spot on the 2028 USA Boxing Olympic Team to compete in Los Angeles. Massachusetts hasn’t had a male Olympic boxer in nearly a century, since New Bedford lightweight  Nathan “Nat” Boor , who captured a bronze medal, ironically, at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. (Lynn’s  Rashida Ellis  competed in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.) New England has had a pair of Olympic super heavyweights, Rhode Island’s  Jason “Big Six’ Estrada  in 2004, and Connecticut’s  Lawrence Clay-Bey , who was Captain of the 1996 USA Boxing Olympic Team. “I know that I have big shoes to fill and I’ll do my best to fight in the 2028 Olympics,” Kabamba noted. “It’s a big deal!” USA Boxing’s prestigious elite teams are precursors in terms of featuring the most hopeful Olympic boxers. Kabamba is a member of the 2026 Men’s Elite High Performance Squad, one of two super heavyweights along with  Nnajai Wright;   Kelvin Watts  is the super heavyweight on the 2026 Men’s Elite High Performance Team. The three aforementioned super heavyweight boxers are favorites to proudly wear the red, white and blue, but only one can qualify. Because Kabamba started boxing at such a relatively older age, he has been catching up with the other two much more experienced super heavyweights, but he is rapidly closing any gap there may still be. “It’s me against them but I’m the best, no questions about it,” Kabamba exclaimed. “They’ve all been boxing a lot longer than me, but I’m older and more matured. I also have a fresher body and I’m the most athletic. The key (to being selected as the 2028 USA Boxing Olympic Team’s super heavyweight) is winning matches and our sparring sessions.” Kabamba reportedly has a 42-6 (8 KOs) amateur boxing record, according to boxrec.com, highlighted by his recent gold-medal winning performance this past May in Colombia at the 2026 Copa America, dominating the action by going 7-0 in his international debut. Credit: USA Boxing A 3-time New England Golden Gloves Champion, Kabamba also won at the 2024 National Golden Gloves Tournament and 2025 International USA Open, to go with his runner-up finish at the 2025 USA Boxing National Championships.

Kabamba, naturally, isn’t the same boxer he was a few years ago when he started boxing. He has been trained in Boston for the past two years by another USA Boxing product,  Mark DeLuca , a 3-time Junior Olympics Champion who turned pro after only one year competing in the open division, largely because he kept running into  Demetrious Andrade  and  Edwin Rodriguez  in national tournaments. Andrade became a 2008 Olympian and 3-time, 2-division world champion as a professional; Rodriguez was the 2005 USA Boxing Championships and 2006 National Golden Gloves champion, who had a 31-3 (20 KOs) pro record. DeLuca, known as “The Bazooka”,  was a solid pro, registering a 30-4 (18 KOs), and today he is one of the most promising, young trainers in the industry. “I used to just come forward to take my opponents’ head off like ( Mike )  Tyson ,” Kabamba described his style. “Mark changed my style; I learned how to box. Now, I’m a puncher-boxer. I always liked hitting from my football years and I’ve never been shy of contact. Some football players who tried boxing quit because they didn’t like getting hit. You’re going to get hit in boxing but it comes down to how you hit back. “ DeLuca has been training Kabamba for two years. Whenever Gilbert isn’t at training camp with his USA Boxing teammates in Colorado Springs, he returns home to Dorchester, religiously training twice a day with Deluca at Waymaker Boxing gym. “Gilbert had raw talent when he first came into our gym,” DeLuca remembered. “He was very athletic and is an exceptional worker. I knew there was a lot to work with. He’s only at 50-percent of what he can become. His ceiling is very high. He’s only 25, a baby, especially because heavyweights don’t peak until their early thirties. “He absolutely can be an Olympian. It’s good for him to train in Colorado Springs because it’s important that the coaches get to know him. It’s impossible not to love his enthusiasm. He’s a real student of boxing, too. The Olympics are still two years away, but calls (promoters and managers) are already coming. I compare him to  Evander Holyfield . Gilbert’s not tall, 6’ 2”, and is a pocket fighter like Holyfield. He has fast hands and is bigger than Holyfield at a solid 250 pounds.” The best is yet to come for Kabamba.   “My goal is to fight in the Olympics and then go pro,” Kabamba concluded. “I want to be world champion and leave a legacy like Ali and Tyson.” Then, it’ll be “Tonka Time.”

Material Courtesy of Bob Trieger Full Court Press/ Photo Courtesy of USA Boxing  Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

No. 1 Super Flyweight contender John ‘Scrappy’ Ramirez In Holding Pattern

 

Credit: Golden Boy Promotions 

Press Release: August 6, 2026 By Bob Trieger - Full Court Press - LOS ANGELES 

–- Colorful Los Angeles professional boxer 

John “Scrappy” Ramirez

 (17-1, 9 KOs) was elevated to the No. 1 position in the super flyweight division of the World Boxing Association (WBA) back in January for the second time during his professional career.

 

Ramirez is also rated No. 5 and No. 11, respectively, by the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Council (WBC).

 

After 

Jessie “Bam” Rodriguez

 relinquished his WBA Super Flyweight World title to move up one weight class, WBA Interim Super Flyweight Champion, 

David “Medallita” Jimenez

 (18-1, 12 KOs) was elevated to WBA Super Flyweight World Champion on June 13, 2026.

 

It was expected that the WBA would order Jimenez to defend his new title against Ramirez, whose only loss was to Jimenez in 2024, by way of a 12-round unanimous decision for the vacant WBA Super Flyweight Interim title in Brooklyn.

 

Jimenez and the WBA, though, have been holding the WBA Super Flyweight World title hostage. The Costa Rican hasn’t fought since July 20, 2025, and being inactive for more than a full year normally results in the title holder being stripped, or if injured, made Champion in Recess. Instead, rumors have circulated that WBA No. 2-rated 

Seigo Yuri Akui

 (23-3-1, 13 KOs) would challenge Jimenez next. 

 

Fighting out of South Central Los Angeles, “Scrappy” has shown the patience of a saint waiting for a deal in which he would fight Jimenez in a rematch for the WBA crown.

 

“I’ve been here before (WBA No. 1 contender) and I learned through the process from the previous time I fought him,” Ramirez said. “All I can control is me. I’ve continued working on my skills in the gym (Brickhouse Boxing Club in North Hollywood, CA). I leave the business side to my team and God.

"My team and I ran into his (Jimenez) manager in Las Vegas at the Capetillo Boxing Gym, where he told us he'd agreed to the rematch —he's gone radio silent ever since. They know they're on borrowed time, and it's only a matter of time before that belt is mine."

"Becoming a WBA World Champion has been my dream ever since my first conversation with the President, Gilberto Mendoza. The WBA are the true pioneers of the sport, and I can't wait for my shot to bring the belt home."

“Now, I’m experienced in boxing. I was undefeated (the last time he was No. 1) and I lost to Jimenez. I took that opportunity and I’m different this time. I want payback, a redemption, and I use that as a source of motivation. In boxing, you see fighters rise to the top and fall. I did but I didn’t complain. Actions speak louder than words. I stayed focused. I’m No. 1 again and took a different path than other fighters. It shows what type of person I am. Boxing is unfair and physically taxing. I stayed focused.”

 

Jimenez, 34, only defended his WBA Interim title twice, winning a 12-round decision from 

Keyvin Lara

 (32-6-1) in Costa Rica , and knocking out 

Kenburn Torres

 (15-5) in Kyrgyzstan. Ramirez had fought four times since his loss to Jimenez, including two this year.

                      

Because of the lack of an amateur background and relatively late start in boxing, the now 30-year-old Ramirez isn’t the same fighter who faced Jimenez nearly 1 ½ years ago. At that time, Jimenez’ had already gained world title experience, suffering this lone loss to date, by way of a 12-round unanimous decision, to then-defending WBA Flyweight World Champion 

Artem Dalakian

 (21-0, 15 KOs) in London.  

 

“We have history and it shouldn’t be difficult matching the champion and No. 1 contender,” Ramirez continued. “This fight has to happen. It is one of the most exciting fights in the super flyweight division.  I wasn’t ready when we fought, the proof is in the pudding. I was capable but not complete at that moment. I had to get the experience I did to be the fighter I am today. I only lacked experience.”

 

“‘Scrappy’ is a different fighter now because he proved something to himself in that last fight,” Ramirez’ fast-rising young head trainer 

Julian Chu

a added. “He proved he belonged with the best in the world. In doing that, though, he got drawn into Jimenez’ kind of fight, and unfortunately he came up short. That’s part of the learning process. Next time, you’ll ee a fighter who is comfortable staying true to himself and his style. He doesn’t have anything to prove anymore. Now it’s about fighting smart, fighting disciplined, and making the other guy adjust to him.”

 

In other words, it’s “Scrappy Time!”

 

“I’ll fight him (Jimenez) anywhere, anyplace, anytime,” Ramirez concluded. “This is the life I chose. To beat the best, I need to roll the dice, and I’m going to continue doing just that. I see myself as world champion.”

“Scrappy” is managed by 3 Point Management (3 PM), which has a growing stable of gifted boxers former including WBA & WBO Cruiserweight and WBO Super Middleweight World Champion 

Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez

 (48-248-2, 30 KOs), WBA No. 5-rated world super middleweight 

Darius “DFG” Fulghum

 (15-1-1, 13 KOs), former WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion 

Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk

 (21-3, 17 KOs), former WBA Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight Champion, Canadian 

Kareem “Supreme” Hackett

 (13-1, 7 KOs), Armenian featherweight 

Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan

 (23-6, 17 KOs), and German junior welterweight 

Simon “Saucy” Vollmer

 (7-0, 3 KOs).

Material Courtesy of Bob Trieger Full Court Press/ Photo Courtesy of Golden Boy Promotions  Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.