LEWIS Crocker admits he is a “massive underdog” going into the September 13 rematch with Paddy Donovan.
The two Irish welterweights will meet for the second time in six months following their controversial first bout in February. At the SSE Arena in Belfast, Donovan was disqualified for landing a shot after the bell in their IBF title eliminator, a blow that temporarily derailed his world title ambitions. However, Team Donovan launched a successful appeal, and the IBF ruled that a rematch should take place.
This time, Crocker and Donovan will contest the vacant IBF welterweight title at Belfast’s Windsor Park, following Jaron Ennis’s decision to vacate the belt and move up to super-welterweight.
Both fighters were in attendance at today’s launch press conference in Belfast, hosted by promoter Eddie Hearn, and flanked by their trainers – Billy Nelson for Crocker, and Andy Lee for Donovan.
Lee, a former middleweight world champion, predicted a more competitive fight than their first meeting, despite his man’s dominance on the night.
“I expect it to be a lot closer,” Lee said. “He [Crocker] will have to come with something different. You can’t do the same thing and expect a different result – that’s the definition of insanity.”
Lee, who has trained Donovan since 2019, said he has no doubts about the Limerick southpaw’s potential to make history.
“He’s got the ability to win it and defend it multiple times. I believe Paddy is the better fighter and he’s got the answer. He’ll go down as one of the best fighters in Irish history.”
Billy Nelson, who guided Ricky Burns to world title glory, was quick to remind everyone of the two-point deduction Donovan received for headbutting during the first fight.
“We’re both looking forward to redeeming ourselves,” Nelson said, while also hinting that all was not right with Crocker on the night. “I think Paddy and Andy know that wasn’t the real Lewis in there. Paddy broke the rules on multiple occasions. What’s done is done, we move on.
We know what we’ve got to do – we just never performed in the first fight.”
Donovan, sharp-suited and self-assured, exuded confidence ahead of September 13. The 25-year-old sees no reason why he can’t replicate his performance – and this time, have his hand raised.
“In the last fight, Billy and Crocker said they had no injuries, no excuses – they were ready to fight. Now they have excuses. It’s in the past, we move forward. I’m ready to seize this opportunity and do a number on Lewis.”
Donovan also questioned the ending to their first contest, when he was disqualified for hitting Crocker after the bell in round eight.
“You can ask Lewis – did he take a dive or did I knock him out after the bell? I’m not sure. I think he took a dive to get me disqualified. I was winning every round and in a comfortable position. No disrespect, but he’s taken a dive.”
“The preparation is going top-class,” he added. “And I’m ready to put on a demolition performance.”
Crocker, more measured in tone, offered no excuses for his display but acknowledged Donovan was the better man that night. The Belfast fighter is determined to show it was a one-off, and to claim the world title in front of his home fans.
“I agreed with the decision, and I agree there should be a rematch. There were no other opponents in my mind – it had to be Paddy. This is the stuff I dreamed of as a kid. It’s all I ever wanted.
“He did knock me out. I was in trouble at that stage, and Paddy made the mistake that ultimately he paid for.
“I have to be better. I said from the start Paddy’s a great fighter, and he showed it in the last fight. I have to put on the performance of my life to win on September 13, and what a time and place to do it.
“The stars aligned. Imagine someone telling me as a kid, you’ll fight at Windsor Park in a huge fight – and you’ll be the underdog. I’m a massive underdog in this fight. No one’s expecting me to win. The first fight was 50-50, but now it’s not.”
