STEVEN DONNELLY IS set to follow his Olympic team-mates Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan into boxing’s professional ranks.
Donnelly, a 28-year-old from Ballymena, is leaving the amateur game behind just over a month after reaching the quarter-finals at Rio 2016.
The Commonwealth Games bronze medallist told the BBC that he is currently in talks with promoters but won’t rush into a decision.
“I have done everything I can do in the amateur game,” said Donnelly. “I’m now looking forward to going pro and I know for a fact that I will be a better pro than I was an amateur. The longer rounds will suit me as you can take your time and settle into the fight.
“At the minute I’m in negotiations with two American promoters and I still have lots of questions to ask them because it is my career on the line after all.”
Competing in the Olympics for the first time, Donnelly was victorious in his opening two bouts to reach the last eight in the men’s welterweight division.
However, with at least a bronze medal at stake, Donnelly suffered a quarter-final defeat via split decision to the world champion, Morocco’s Mohammed Rabii.
