Lewis Crocker to make his own history in first all-Irish world title fight

Lewis Crocker will make history this weekend after being inspired by his older sister

Lewis Crocker was a mere four years old when his sister Alanna Nihell made her mark in one of the most iconic fights in Irish boxing history.

Alanna faced none other than Katie Taylor in the first ever sanctioned amateur bout between two women in Ireland, an event that the undisputed super-lightweight world champion recalled after clinching Olympic gold in 2012.

This weekend, ‘The Croc’ is set to make his own history as he squares off against Paddy Donovan in the first ever all-Irish world title fight, aware that a win could catapult him to the forefront of Irish boxing.

“I got into boxing because of my sister Alanna so it’s great to keep going at it and now she’s a boxing coach and it still runs in the family,” he stated.

“This event means the world to me, it means the world to my family as well and it means everything to Belfast. For Belfast to get another world champion would be exceptional.”

He continued: “It’s crazy to think (he could become the face of Irish boxing) because I was always the kid who was in the crowd watching them fight so to hold the torch would be unreal. That’s what it’s all about, that’s what you get into boxing for.”

Born in Sandy Row in the year the Good Friday Agreement was signed, Crocker takes pride in representing all communities in his beloved Belfast.

“When I was growing up I never encountered any sectarianism,” he remarked. “I went to an integrated school with Catholics and Protestants. I boxed for Ireland, I boxed for Holy Trinity in West Belfast, I’m from Sandy Row.

“I’ve as many friends on one side as I do the other so I’ve always been mutual and to have the support from everyone in Belfast it’s great and I’m very proud that the first all-Irish world title fight is in Belfast.”