BELFAST – In March, Paddy Donovan left the arena in floods of tears having been disqualified and lost for the first time as a professional.

This time he was reduced to tears again having been narrowly outscored by Lewis Crocker in their return on a cold night outdoors at Windsor Park.

Two knockdowns for Crocker were the difference in a tight fight. Donovan went down in the third and, more heavily, in the fifth.

Limerick’s Donovan won by one card of 115-111, but the two others favored Crocker by 114-112 and 114-113.

“Nobody gave me a chance in this fight, Lewis Crocker, world fucking champion,” screamed the new IBF welterweight champion. 

“I thought I was picking my shots well; I didn’t get caught with anything, I think I boxed a great fight. Nobody gave me a shot. Everybody thought I’d get stopped.”

In March, Donovan had dominated all eight rounds but had been docked points for infractions and was ultimately thrown out for a shot that came after the bell and ended the fight.

Their past fight had been an eliminator for the belt, but after Jaron “Boots” Ennis relinquished the title and elected to move up, the title was left open. 

A crescendo of boos, along with shrieking cries of support, greeted Donovan’s introduction. The sounds were reversed for Crocker; more cheers but audible boos.

The atmosphere was, for the first ever all-Irish-world-title fight, simply spine-tingling – the roar that greeted the fighters in the ring when the first bell sounded was replaced by a hushed murmur and they went to work.

Little of note happened in the first round. They took a look at one another and Donovan scored with a left at its end

Boos greeted the lack of activity in the second, and there was little to separate them as they searched for openings. The fans sang political songs and waited for the action in the ring.  

Crocker, who lives a 10-minute walk away from the stadium, on Sandy Row, kept his right hand cocked and poised for openings, and Donovan was given a count as he walked forward and got caught by a cuffing left hook that caused him to touch down. He disagreed with the decision but he soon went back to work.

Donovan was feeding Crocker feints but the Belfast man stayed in position and kept his focus.

By the fourth round of their first encounter, Donovan was firmly in his flow. Here, he had not ventured out of first gear but he was starting to win the territorial battle and he was fighting on the front foot. Still, Crocker was patient and composed; his guard tight. He was giving Donovan none of the opportunities Donovan had so gratefully feasted upon in March at the SSE Arena.

That was until Crocker appeared instantly shaken by a left hand from the Limerick man midway through the round.

Crocker’s head movement was also much improved. He wasn’t just cupping his ears and riding out the shots, he was thinking about what he was doing and what might come back and a short counter left hook – a hard shot – dropped Donovan once more near the bell to end the fifth and the Limerick man looked shaken as he made it back to his feet. As Donovan dropped his left knee appeared to buckle, but he came out for the sixth seemingly okay.

Crocker’s concentration had not faltered. Donovan was coming in on straight lines, not using the angles or variety of March when he attacked Crocker with abandon from every which way. 

They padded one another’s lead hands away through the seventh while trying to find openings. Crocker helped himself to a right hand and pivoted away, leaving Donovan to miss with his reply. Donovan landed a left downstairs on the bell and reeled away, but it was close.

The crowd started chanting “There’s only one Lewis Crocker” in the eighth. It was Crocker who had the hopes of this significant crowd pinned on him, given victory would ensure that the big fights keep coming back to Belfast.

Eddie Hearn said, in partial jest, that he had spoken in the week about the likes of Conor Benn, Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney being possible visitors for the winner.

But this more conservative version of Crocker did not suit Donovan at all. Crocker’s team will contend this was the version that would have boxed in March but for an unspecified condition that meant he came in a shell of the fighter he was tonight.

Donovan had oozed confidence and charisma this week, but he looked comparatively flat. He was stuck in a low gear and couldn’t build momentum. Crocker was not doing much, either, but he had recorded a couple of knockdowns and had shown serious improvement. It was close. 

Donovan was winning more rounds but Crocker kept it close and had the knockdowns in his favour. Donovan punched the air at the end of the ninth and moved to engage more in the 11th. He increased his work, explored openings downstairs and slotted in some right hooks. His variety, lacking throughout the fight this time, was improving. He again punched the air to celebrate at the end of the round, but the scoring margins were likely finite.

“Croc” looked for his right hand in the last. He was throwing heavier shots but Donovan was throwing more and there were signs that Donovan had plenty left. Both fighters celebrated at the end. Crocker wheeled away to his corner; the trainer Andy Lee hoisted Donovan on to his shoulders. Each thought they’d done enough. 

But Crocker, 22-0 (12 KOs) had won it and silenced his many doubters. Donovan drops to 14-2 (11 KOs).

“I think a massive fight for the UK fans is Conor Benn,” said a jubilant Crocker.