Latest news with #PaddyDonovan
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Crocker rejects Donovan's 'dive' claims
Lewis Crocker dismissed Paddy Donovan assertion that he "took a dive" in their first fight when they met on Monday to launch their IBF World welterweight rematch on 13 September at Belfast's Windsor Crocker won the first fight between the pair in March by way of disqualification with Donovan thrown out at the eighth round for punching after the bell of what was a world title to the ending, the Limerick man had been deducted points in the sixth and eight rounds for fouls but also scored a legitimate knockdown just prior to the late shot that forced referee Marcus McDonnell to issue the ultimate punishment dropped Crocker who was awarded the win and a shot at then champion Jaron 'Boots' following an appeal by Donovan's team, the IBF granted a rematch and with Ennis opting to vacate the title to move up to the light-middleweight division, the vacant belt will be on the line when Crocker and Donovan meet in the first all-Irish world title fight in history at the home of Northern Ireland football. 'It couldn't have worked out better' - Donovan The fighters met at Windsor Park on Monday for a media call to launch their second fight before moving to a press conference in the city where Donovan accused his rival of making the most of the late punch in March."It couldn't have panned out any better for me after the controversy after the first fight," said the 26-year-old who suffered his first career blemish due to the disqualification."The IBF ruled in our favour to get this world title over the line and I'm happy to be back in Belfast. I can't wait to get in there on 13 September and put on a show."You can ask Lewis if he took a dive or I knocked him out after the bell. I think he took a dive to get me disqualified. I'd been winning every round and was in a comfortable position, so the only way for Lewis to get the win was by taking a dive."After the last fight, my confidence is only growing and I can get the knockout this time." 'I have to be much better in the rematch' - Crocker Crocker insisted a rematch is warranted and he was keen to make it happen, but nonetheless, is adamant the right call was made at the end of their first 28-year-old put his performance in March down to "an off night" but acknowledges he will go into the rematch as an outsider after opinions were split before their first accepts he will need a much better performance to leave no room for debate this time around but shot down Donovan's jibes by saying his rival simply paid the price for breaking the rules."I agreed with the decision, but also agreed there should be a rematch," he said."He didn't knock me out. My eye was shut and I was in trouble at that stage. Paddy made the mistake and paid for it."Crocker added he will be a "massive underdog" this time around."Nobody wanted the fight to end like that, including myself, and I know I'm a lot better fighter than what I showed. The next day, I rang Jamie (Conlan, manager) and told him to get the rematch sorted."Everything has worked out. We were fighting in an eliminator originally, but now it's for the title. It's everything I've dreamed of since I was a kid and all I've ever wanted."I have to be better. Paddy is a great fighter and showed that in the last fight. I'm a massive underdog in this fight - nobody's expecting me to win. To pull off the win, it would be the stuff of dreams."
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Crocker-Donovan 2 promoters still awaiting conformation of Executive funding for Windsor Park showdown
The promoters of the historic All-Ireland World title fight between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan at Windsor Park have yet to receive an official response from First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly about the possibility of public funding for the event despite writing to them three and a half weeks ago.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
All-Irish world title fight confirmed for Windsor Park in Belfast
Limerick 's Paddy Donovan and Belfast's Lewis Crocker will fight for the IBF welterweight title in a bout being billed as the first all-Irish world title fight. The bout is set for September 13th in Windsor Park, Belfast . It will be a rematch of their fight in March, when Donovan was disqualified for flooring Crocker with a punch after the bell sounded in the eighth round. The winner will join Katie Taylor as the only other Irish world champion in professional boxing . In a social media post announcing the fight, Donovan said: 'I'm looking to repeat another stellar boxing performance, set the record straight and come home with a world title.' READ MORE Meanwhile, Crocker said he wanted to 'silence the doubters' who did not accept the outcome of their clash in March. In their first encounter, the 26-year-old Donovan (14-1, 11KOs) appeared to be winning more of the rounds and was gathering momentum over Crocker (21-0, 11KOs) as the fight wore on. However, the pair continually clashed heads, partly due to the orthodox-southpaw matchup. Donovan was docked two points by referee Marcus McDonnell for headbutting, with Crocker's face wearing most of the damage. With 20 second left in the eighth round, Donovan knocked down Crocker with a left uppercut, but he beat the count and the fight resumed. With the crowd at fever pitch, the bell rang for the end of the session, but Donovan appeared not to hear it and knocked his foe down with a right hook. The referee was standing a few paces away when the bell went and disqualified Donovan for the late hit. While the victorious Crocker received oxygen in his corner, Donovan was furious and broke down in tears across the ring. With the win, Crocker (28) became the mandatory challenger for the IBF welterweight title, which champion Jaron Ennis vacated in June, meaning the belt is up for grabs this time around. Donovan, nicknamed Real Deal, is coached by former world champion Andy Lee, who has proved to be an excellent trainer in guiding Joseph Parker back to the brink of a heavyweight world title fight. A win for the Limerick pair would make Donovan the first world champion coached by Lee, who trains world class fighters out of Ballybrack Boxing Club. Promoted by Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing, the fight will be broadcast on streaming service DAZN.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Crocker-Donovan rematch confirmed for Windsor Park
The rematch between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan, which has been upgraded to a world title fight for the vacant IBF welterweight belt, is to take place at Belfast's Windsor Park stadium on Saturday, 13 September. Promoters Matchroom Boxing confirmed on Thursday that the venue, which hosts the Northern Ireland international football team's home matches, would stage the first-ever world title fight between two boxers from the island of Ireland. The welterweight title was previously held by American Jaron 'Boots' Ennis. The first meeting between the pair on 1 March was a final eliminator for the IBF title and ended in controversial fashion with Crocker taking the win by disqualification in front of a 8,500 crowd at the SSE Arena in his native Belfast. Limerick fighter Donovan, who had twice previously been deducted points, was thrown out at the end of the eighth round for punching after the bell. An appeal from Donovan's team resulted in the IBF granting a rematch which would again serve as a final eliminator for the world title but with champion Ennis moving up to the light-middleweight, the belt became vacant. Windsor Park last hosted a boxing event in August 2018 when two-weight world champion Carl Frampton defeated Luke Jackson of Australia. 'It's going to be exceptional' Speaking to BBC Sport NI, Crocker said: "Unbelievable. As a kid all I wanted to do was to fight for a world title. To fight at Windsor Park is a dream. "I can't imagine what it's going to be like to fight for a world title there. The first all-Irish world title fight. It's history. "The controversy from the last fight makes it even bigger. It's going to be exceptional. The rematch should happen 100%. I wanted the rematch to put things right." Crocker's victory made it 21 wins from 21 fights for the Belfast boxer but the 28-year-old was not happy with his level of performance. "I underperformed massively in the first fight so to go in as an underdog and prove everyone wrong, and win a world title at Windsor Park - I'll take that all day long. "I'd be a happy man until I die if I win a world title, especially at Windsor Park. "The atmosphere is going to be electric. Obviously he [Donovan] will have his support as well but my friends and family and the people of Belfast will back me." Boxing schedule and results 2025 Watch every Born to Brawl episode More boxing from the BBC Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Crocker-Donovan rematch confirmed for Windsor Park
The rematch between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan, which has been upgraded to a world title fight for the vacant IBF welterweight belt, is to take place at Belfast's Windsor Park stadium on Saturday, 13 September. Promoters Matchroom Boxing confirmed on Thursday that the venue, which hosts the Northern Ireland international football team's home matches, would stage the first-ever world title fight between two boxers from the island of Ireland. The welterweight title was previously held by American Jaron 'Boots' Ennis. The first meeting between the pair on 1 March was a final eliminator for the IBF title and ended in controversial fashion with Crocker taking the win by disqualification in front of a 8,500 crowd at the SSE Arena in his native Belfast. Limerick fighter Donovan, who had twice previously been deducted points, was thrown out at the end of the eighth round for punching after the bell. An appeal from Donovan's team resulted in the IBF granting a rematch which would again serve as a final eliminator for the world title but with champion Ennis moving up to the light-middleweight, the belt became vacant. Windsor Park last hosted a boxing event in August 2018 when two-weight world champion Carl Frampton defeated Luke Jackson of Australia. 'It's going to be exceptional' Speaking to BBC Sport NI, Crocker said: "Unbelievable. As a kid all I wanted to do was to fight for a world title. To fight at Windsor Park is a dream. "I can't imagine what it's going to be like to fight for a world title there. The first all-Irish world title fight. It's history. "The controversy from the last fight makes it even bigger. It's going to be exceptional. The rematch should happen 100%. I wanted the rematch to put things right." Crocker's victory made it 21 wins from 21 fights for the Belfast boxer but the 28-year-old was not happy with his level of performance. "I underperformed massively in the first fight so to go in as an underdog and prove everyone wrong, and win a world title at Windsor Park - I'll take that all day long. "I'd be a happy man until I die if I win a world title, especially at Windsor Park. "The atmosphere is going to be electric. Obviously he [Donovan] will have his support as well but my friends and family and the people of Belfast will back me." Boxing schedule and results 2025 Watch every Born to Brawl episode More boxing from the BBC Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
