BELFAST – Lewis Crocker has spoken of his gratitude for trainer Billy Nelson ahead of his rematch with Paddy Donovan this week.
The popular Belfast man was being outboxed by Donovan in March before being caught by a shot after the bell, causing Limerick’s Donovan to be disqualified.
Crocker maintained his unbeaten record, and is now 21-0 (11 KOs).
The 28-year-old is a sizable underdog, however, for the rematch at Windsor Park in Belfast on Saturday.
Nelson is outspoken on social media, and a huge proponent of his men, like Crocker and heavyweight Martin Bakole.
Asked whether Nelson’s ways have taken the pressure off Crocker, the fighter said: “I don’t know anything about it.
“I just focus on myself, you know. I think Billy, because we have such a love for each other, probably sees me getting stick from people and is defensive about it. So, you know, I’ve got to respect him for that. I just think the bond that me and Billy have is different. I came here to [Scotland to] Billy with nothing, and now I’m on the cusp of winning the world title here. So, you know, he’s changed my life.”
Crocker has spent a month preparing in Dubai before rounding off his prep in Scotland, at Nelson’s gym.
“I’ve been in Scotland and just training hard,” Crocker said. “It was good to get in the heat and stuff, and just to get a different view from back here, so it was good to get away.”
Crocker has also been inspired closer to home. His sister, Alanna, boxed Katie Taylor in the first sanctioned all-Irish women’s fight in Ireland.
Now Crocker is headlining in the first all-Ireland world title fight.
”It’s history being made again,” Crocker added. “So I’m very proud of that. I got into boxing because of my sister Alanna, so it’s great to keep going on it, and now she’s a boxing coach and stuff, so it still runs in the family. And this event means the world to me; it means the world to my family as well. It means everything to Belfast, like. Belfast to get another world champion would be exceptional, and it gives other fighters opportunities to be on big cards and have the big promoters over. So it would be a dream to become world champion.”
