Lewis Crocker given brutal Paddy Donovan verdict after first fight week face-off

Paddy Donovan and Lewis Crocker came face-to-face at Windsor Park ahead of their world title fight

‘F***ed and ‘b*****ed’ were the two words Paddy Donovan used to describe Lewis Crocker as he walked away from their first fight week face-off between the pair.

They came face-to-face at Windsor Park on Tuesday evening, just days before their historic IBF world welterweight title clash at the Belfast venue.

Crocker, who was raised mere yards from the stadium, maintained a composed demeanour during the face-off, whilst a self-assured Donovan, the overwhelming favourite for Saturday’s rematch, tried to wind up the Sandy Row fighter.

Donovan enquired how Crocker’s training camp had progressed, with the local hero describing it as ‘good’ before the Limerick southpaw responded: “That’s not what I heard, kid. It’s all over for you. Once and for all, I will put it to bed. It’s a big night for you, Lewis, in Belfast, A big, big night kid.”

Crocker declined to take the bait, though, reports the Irish Mirror.

Crocker refused to rise to the bait, however. Responding to Donovan’s goading, he retorted with a quip about his rival’s new, plaited hairstyle and insisted he was ready for the biggest bout of his career.

Departing the pitch towards his team, Donovan remarked: “He’s f***ed, he’s ‘b*****ed.”

Saturday’s encounter arrives six months after Donovan was disqualified for striking Crocker after the bell at the conclusion of the eighth round at Belfast’s SSE Arena. Andy Lee, Donovan’s trainer, slammed the performance of referee Marcus McDonnell as a ‘disgrace’ following the match.

McDonnell had also docked points from the Limerick man in the sixth and eighth rounds for use of the head and elbow.

Before the disqualification, Donovan was ahead on all three judge’s scorecards, with his team successfully appealing the result, leading to the IBF ordering a rematch.

Their first bout was a world title eliminator. However, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis has since given up the IBF belt to move up in weight class and the world title will be at stake when Crocker and Donovan face off again, with over 20,000 spectators expected to turn out this Saturday.