Irish boxer Eric Donovan has sealed the biggest fight of his career next month as he prepares to fight for a European title.
The Kildare native will take on Mario Alfano for the European super featherweight title on 14 May, with the bout set for Brescia in Italy.
It comes at the second time of asking after a title fight against Haithem Laamouz was scrapped after his opponent tested positive for a banned substance.
And after the Maltese fighter was stripped of his title, both opponents come into the bout to win the vacant belt.
And Donovan claims that the 'dream' of winning the belt was the reason behind his return from retirement three years ago.
"It's the biggest fight of my career," he told RTÉ's Sunday Sport.
"The fight that fell through in Belgium was supposed to act as a warm up fight for me to get a couple of rounds under my belt for the big one coming down the line. I didn't get too upset about it because I knew what was coming and all that training I had done was not going to go to waste.
"I said coming back after three years of retirement that a dream of mine would be to get a European title and here I am within touching distance of making that become a reality.
"Fingers crossed I get the job done."
