PHOTO: Sugar Dre Donovan works out with trainer Lee Kreisher
Andre “Sugar Dre” Donovan is heading south to fight for the IBF title.
How far south? About as south as you can get.
Donovan will fight on March 29th in Queensland, Australia to challenge for the vacant International Boxing Federation bantamweight title.
Sugar Dre, a Uhrichsville native and resident who fights out of the Tuscarawas County Boxing Academy, made the announcement Monday afternoon at his New Philadelphia training facility.
City officials from New Philadelphia and Uhrichsville attended the event, along with a large group of fans, family and friends.
“We’ve been doing this thing for a couple years now and everybody is always asking ‘When are you going to make it big, when are you going to fight on the next level,’” Donovan said. “It’s all God’s timing, but the time is now.
“We fortunately have the opportunity to fight a former WBO champion and it just so happens he comes from Australia. You know the 922 way … we go to their backyard and show them the 922 relentlessness and make some fans, so we’re going to Australia, baby. T-County is going to Australia.”
Following the announcement, Uhrichsville Mayor Jim Zucal declared the day as Sugar Dre Donovan Day and presented him with a key to the city.
Donovan’s opponent for the scheduled 10-round fight is not being announced pending the announcement of the event in Australia.
With a victory, Donovan will be catapulted into the top 10 in the IBF rankings, making him eligible to fight in world championship events.
“I will be physically stronger on fight night by not having to cut those last few pounds,” noted Donovan, who has been fighting in the super flyweight division. “I think they are underestimating me, but come fight night, they will see I belong on the world stage.
“I have nothing to lose in this fight … all the pressure is on him. I’m not going to Australia for a vacation, I am going to bring home a belt for T-County.”
Donovan followed the announcement with a brief exhibition in the ring with trainer Lee Kreisher and a time signing autographs and visiting with friends.
After the event, Donovan left for Las Vegas, where he will do intensive training before returning home for final preparations for Australia.
Donovan has spent nearly his entire boxing career training under Kreisher, a former middleweight boxer and combat sports veteran. Kreisher is the owner and head coach of the Tuscarawas County Boxing Academy.
“Without Lee, I don’t know that I would have ever turned pro, let alone get to where I have gotten,” said Donovan, who won the Appalachian Boxing Organization world title recently. “Lee comes up with the game plan and my job is to execute that plan.
“To be honest with you, Lee has not only changed my life, he might have saved it.”
Donovan started boxing at the Roy Walters Boxing Academy under the guidance of former undefeated professional and amateur standout Roy Caldwell of Dennison.
“I knew I was approaching the record, but at the end of the day, that’s not what this is about. It’s more about getting to the next week successful and healthy. Thankfully, we got both done tonight.”
