PADDY DONOVAN has won his appeal with the IBF following his controversial fight with Lewis Crocker. On March 1, 2025, the two undefeated Irishmen clashed in a pulsating IBF welterweight final eliminator at Belfast’s SSE Arena, with the winner set to challenge champion Jaron Ennis. Before a raucous crowd, Crocker, 21-0 (11 KOs), and Donovan, 14-1 (11 KOs), traded blows in a war that saw Donovan dominate much of the contest.
The turning point came in the eighth round. After dropping Crocker with a flurry, Donovan seemed moments away from the biggest win of his career. Crocker rose with seconds left, but in a wild exchange, Donovan landed a heavy blow after the bell, dropping him again. Referee Marcus McDonnell promptly disqualified Donovan for the late punch, handing victory to Crocker amid chaos and confusion.
Donovan, believing he had won, was devastated when the ruling sank in. Crocker, cut over both eyes, returned to his stool for oxygen. Team Donovan vowed to appeal, convinced their fighter had been robbed. On March 27, co-manager Keith Sullivan announced their success in a press release: “I am very happy that the IBF agreed with my arguments and evidence, they made the right decision under the rules. The rematch will be even bigger than the first fight. The crowd and fans around the globe absolutely loved it; the atmosphere in the arena was electric. It was a great promotion put on by Matchroom and it is unfortunate it ended as it did, but now Paddy will set the record straight and continue his quest for a world title.”
Judges’ scorecards, revealed post-fight, showed Donovan leading 69-63 on two cards and 67-65 on the third. He claimed the SSE Arena’s noise drowned out the bell—a point bolstered by the appeal. The press release noted that DAZN footage showed no audible 10-second warning from the timekeeper, nor did McDonnell position himself to separate the fighters as Donovan went for the jugular.
Eddie Hearn, who promotes both boxers, had been uncertain about an appeal’s outcome but admitted a rematch would be “huge.” The IBF’s March rankings list Crocker as the No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger, with Donovan at No. 3 and the No. 2 slot vacant. Whether Crocker opts for the rematch—and what Hearn can offer—remains unclear. A second bout could elevate this rivalry into one of Ireland’s biggest boxing spectacles in years, potentially filling an outdoor venue with roaring fans.
