Donagh packs a punch

Donagh packs a punch

19 March 2025

CASTLEWELLAN boxer Donagh Keary followed in the footsteps of some of the sport’s all-time greats when he set Madison Square Garden alight and claimed victory on his professional debut.

Legends like Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and George Foreman may have graced the arena, but, this time, it was Keary that basked in the grandeur of boxing’s most iconic venue.

Fighting live on YouTube, in the featherweight division, his undercard bout with Puerto Rican opponent Geral Alicea-Romero preceded his compatriot Callum Walsh’s clash with Scotland’s Dean Sutherland.

After four hard-fought rounds, both fighters were still standing, leaving the result in the hands of the judges’ scorecards.

Aliciea-Romero may have had a previous taste of the pro game, drawing on his debut, but the judges decided that Keary had quite simply outboxed his counterpart, handing him victory by way of unanimous decision.

The 20 year-old, who is coached by Bobby Lavery and former unified bantamweight world champion Ryan Burnett, has been boxing since the age of six and previously recorded a respectable amateur record of 40 wins, seven knockouts and 16 defeats.

November’s defeat to County Meath’s Gavin Ryan, by judges’ decision, in the Irish Elite final in Dublin eliminated his chances of boxing for world amateur title.

However, it also marked the point where he decided to try his hand at a professional career — something coach Lavery thought he was destined for.

“I always knew Donagh would be a professional someday, since he first walked into the Rathfriland Gym,” he stated.

“I have a lot of contacts in the pro game, since I used to part-own irish-boxing.com. I made a few calls and everyone was positive.”

That decision now looks to have worked in his favour and, having achieved a professional win at the first time of asking, the sky could very well be the limit.

Keary is not short of supporters in his home town of Castlewellan and they certainly have the belief that he could go on to achieve greatness, with scores of people gathering to watch his fight in Maginn’s Bar, and celebrating the victory like it was their own.

He may have been enjoying the spoils of his impressive feat, but Keary made the time to take to social media and pay tribute to those that have been in his corner.

He posted: “What an experience. Thanks to everyone who supported [me], all my sponsors and, most importantly, Ryan and Bobby for getting me ready for this fight.”