Six months after their first fight ended in controversy, Irish welterweights Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan will get together again on September 13 at Windsor Park, Northern Ireland, this time to contest the vacant IBF welterweight title.
Back in March, at Belfast’s SSE Arena, Donovan dropped Crocker with a punch thrown after the bell to end round eight and was immediately disqualified from the final eliminator for the same title by the referee Marcus McDonnell. The call ended a fight he was until then winning and left Donovan crestfallen and Crocker, both victim and victor, far from satisfied.
“This is the fight I’ve wanted since the final bell of the first one,” said Crocker, 21-0 (11). “To run it back for the IBF title, and to do it in such an iconic stadium in Belfast, in front of my own people, is something I’ve dreamed of my whole life.
“This isn’t just a rematch. It’s my chance to silence the doubters and prove I’m the best welterweight in the world. I know exactly what I need to do, and on fight night, I’m leaving with that world title.”
“It’s going to be a great atmosphere in Belfast on fight night,” Donovan, 14-1 (11), said. “I’m looking to repeat another stellar boxing performance, set the record straight and come home with a world title. I can’t wait.”
As is often the case when controversy clouds a result, the rematch between Crocker, 28, and Donovan is expected to be considerably bigger and attract more interest than fight one. In terms of stage, it will take place outdoors at Windsor Park, a football stadium much larger in size than the SSE Arena. Better yet, the rematch between Crocker and the 26-year-old Donovan has a title on the line following Jaron Ennis’ decision to relinquish it and move up to junior middleweight.
“World-title fight!” Crocker previously wrote on social media after learning a world title was at stake. “The biggest fight in Irish boxing history. Time to prove them all wrong.”
Donovan, meanwhile, wrote: “It’s my time to become IBF world champion. Thank you to my team. It’s going to be history on the Emerald Isles 26 years young. Let’s go!”
