DONOVAN WILL FACE PARO FOR SHOT AT TITLE

PADDY DONOVAN has been offered a route back to a world title fight after the IBF ordered a welterweight final eliminator between the Limerick man and Australia’s Liam Paro.

- BY ROBERT HYNES

‘The Real Deal’ (14-2, 11KOs) suffered a split-decision defeat to Lewis Crocker in their IBF world title fight at 147 pounds in Belfast last month following another really close contest between the pair.

Meanwhile, Paro (inset) overcame an eye injury to defeat David Papot in an IBF title eliminator by unanimous decision.

Donovan’s team through his co-manager Keith Sullivan launched an appeal following his September loss to Crocker, with the IBF moving to maintain the 26-year-old at no.3 in the welterweight rankings, with Paro at no.2.