Eric Donovan comes through battle to take European title

Eric Donovan is the EU Super Featherweight champion after a points decision win over France's Khalil El Hadri.

The five-time Irish elite champion took the crown at the Europa Hotel after a bruising 12-round contest, the judges giving the Athy boxer the nod on a unanimous verdict.

After a cagey opening, Donovan survived a standing count in the fourth round, after being caught flush by the Frenchman.

Donovan reacted well, enjoying a dominant stretch between the 7th and 9th rounds, before surviving a vicious onslaught in the 10th.

Both boxers celebrated at the end of a frantic closing round but it was Donovan who got the nod from the judges, much to the chagrin of the French corner.

Regardless, it was a glorious moment for the bloodied Donovan, crowned the new European Union super featherweight champion at the end of a ferocious battle.