Last week, the Australian produced an excellent display of skill and heart to outpoint Lewis Crocker and become a two-weight world champion.

Donovan (15-2, 11 KOs) twice lost to Crocker during a disappointing 2025 but despite the defeats, he maintained a high ranking with the IBF and, in May, he travelled to Germany and assured himself of a shot at the new champion by outpointing the Ukraine’s Chukhadzhian in a final eliminator.

“I'm not sure,” Lee told Matchroom when asked whether a fight between Paro and Donovan could happen later this year.

“What will happen now is Paro will get a voluntary defense himself probably and who knows, if he defends it well and is successful, then Paddy is the next in line.

“But if he loses it, who knows who will be the champion. It could be nine months before Paddy fights for the title. But we'll see.

“For us, Paddy is going to stay active, stay busy, keep improving, building his confidence. I can't tell you how much pressure he was under going into that fight in Germany.

“The standard to which he boxed, he was world class against a very good fighter in Karen Chukhadzhian and he just showed everybody what he's capable of. I think Paro, or whoever's the champion by the time, they'll be wary of Paddy after that performance.”

Donovan’s win over Chukhadzhian was just his third appearance over the past two years and Lee is keen to maintain the momentum that the important win generated.

On September 5, the 27-year-old will be back in action when he fights Belfast action hero, Tyrone McKenna (25-6-1, 8 KOs), over 10 rounds on the undercard of Katie Taylor’s farewell fight against Flora Pili.

A crowd of around 80,000 is expected at Dublin’s Croke Park as The Ring junior welterweight champion brings down the curtain on her outstanding career.

Donovan will be a huge favourite to beat 36-year-old McKenna but Lee is taking the fight extremely seriously. The fact that Donovan will get the chance to perform on such a historic occasion is an added bonus.

“Activity,” Lee said when asked why Donovan is taking on McKenna with a mandatory challenge to Paro already assured.

“I think every boxer in this country, and probably in England and Scotland and Wales too, wanted to be part of this show. I think Paddy would have fought for free just to have the opportunity to fight in Croke Park.

“McKenna is a great challenge. He’s a cult hero here and he's a legend of Irish boxing and one of my favorite fighters and people.

“It's a shame we’ve got to fight him but both guys are going to benefit from it and, again, they couldn't say no. They couldn't turn it down.”