LEWIS Crocker is still unbeaten as a professional boxer but the circumstances surrounding his eighth-round disqualification win over Paddy Donovan will be debated long into the night.
After Marcus McDonnell ruled that Donovan had committed one foul too many, the veteran referee halted the contest, ruling a DQ win to Crocker. After the bout, an emotional Donovan claimed that McDonnell had “taken his dreams away”.
While Donovan was clearly the better boxer and ahead on all three scorecards, an unfolding background narrative of his use of the elbows and head was also at play. The Limerick southpaw was deducted two points on separate occasions before the decisive moment at the end of round eight.
Crocker had already been down in that round and a combination from Donovan eased him back to the canvas. However, at least one of those blows was struck after the bell had sounded. The loud SSE Arena crowd were incensed and McDonnell agreed, throwing Donovan out in the process.
This bout served as an IBF eliminator which creates the awkward situation of Crocker being potentially in line for a crack at champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis while Donovan is probably the more prepared of the two for that opportunity.
Post-fight debate suggests that the raucous atmosphere made it hard for Donovan to hear the bell and that McDonnell should’ve been closer to split them. Crocker went on to lament the fact he was unable to compete due to relentless headbutts. He thanked the supportive Belfast crowd after a bizarre evening of action.
