Paddy Donovan is already targeting a third fight with Lewis Crocker after an agreement was reached for his IBF welterweight title eliminator with Liam Paro to take place on January 16.
The Irishman will travel to Paro’s home city of Brisbane, Australia, where on the undercard of the all-Australian 157lbs catchweight fight between Nikita Tszyu and Michael Zerafa at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre he and the 29-year-old Paro will contest what represents a final eliminator for Crocker’s title.
Donovan fought and lost to his fellow Irishman Crocker in March and then September, first via a controversial disqualification and then via split decision. Following successive defeats he will perhaps be less of a favourite than he was against the 28-year-old Crocker – Paro, albeit at junior welterweight, is a former world champion – but he views their date in January as a chance to not only realise his ambitions of winning a recognised world title but to secure his chance of revenge.
Paro’s promoters No Limit have made little secret of the grandness of their plans for him – it perhaps demonstrates much that the promotion has been organised for Paro’s home city, and not that of Tszyu or Zerafa – but Donovan told BoxingScene: “It’s a good opportunity for me to be back in the mix of things. Liam Paro is a great fighter – fantastic fighter – and I’m ready to take this opportunity to get back in position to fight Lewis Crocker for a third time.
“The last two fights I believe are very, very controversial. I’ve watched the last fight back a lot of times and every time I’ve watched it I think I’ve won the fight. That’s not just being biased – I think I did enough to win the fight. But look – it’s a great opportunity for me to run it back against Lewis. There’s unfinished business there. I might be in Lewis’ dreams – I’m sure he doesn’t want to fight me for a third time. But that’s my end goal. Beat Liam Paro, in Australia, and take on Crocker again, for the third time.
“In my head I still think I’m 16-0, but unfortunately I’m not. I’m 14-2. So there’s a lot of pressure on this fight – it’s a must-win fight for me in my career. I’d rather the fight be this side of the pond, but it’s in Australia – as long as I get a fair shake I think I’ll deal with Liam Paro.
“You’ve seen it in Belfast the past two times – they favoured Crocker to win the fight. Anytime you go to anyone’s back garden they’re obviously favoured to win – the judges are swaying towards the one fighter.
“I’d like to think this time, after the last couple of fights, I deserve to get a fair shake. If I get a fair shake in Australia I believe I’ll dominate Liam Paro.”
Donovan, 26, will prepare for Paro from his respected trainer Andy Lee’s gym in Dublin, Ireland, but is yet to determine how early they will arrive on the Australian west coast in an attempt to acclimatise to the 10-hour time difference that exists during the southern hemisphere’s summer.
“The main thing is getting to work with Andy, getting in the best possible shape, getting in a position where I feel like it’s the best Paddy Donovan, and whenever Andy feels like hitting Australia we’re gonna hit it,” he said.
“I’d like to thank my team for making this happen.”
