Life-changing rewards on offer for Lewis Crocker vs Paddy Donovan winner

Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan face-off at Windsor Park in a IBF world welterweight title fight

Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan are on the brink of making Irish sporting history, just 12 rounds away from potentially joining the ranks of legends like Katie Taylor, Steve Collins, Barry McGuigan, Carl Frampton and Andy Lee, Donovan’s own coach.

Their goal is to secure their place in the annals of Irish sport by becoming world champions.

At first glance, one might assume that Crocker would be the favourite for this IBF world welterweight title fight.

His impressive record boasts 21 fights, 21 victories, 11 of which were knockouts, and the bout is set to take place just a stone’s throw away from his childhood home in Sandy Row, with the majority of Saturday’s 16,000-strong crowd expected to rally behind ‘The Croc’.

However, these statistics only reveal a portion of the full story. Donovan’s current record stands at 14-1, with 11 KOs, following his disqualification during their previous encounter earlier this year.

The Limerick boxer was disqualified after he let his excitement get the better of him when he seemed to have the upper hand over Crocker, striking him after the bell had rung to signal the end of the eighth round.

Referee Marcus McDonnell disqualified the southpaw after already penalising him for using his head and elbow.

Donovan demonstrated exceptional skill throughout the bout and, having come to terms with the disappointment of the fight, a world title eliminator, he believes faith has played a significant role in guiding him to this pivotal moment.

“I think God has a big part to play in this one,” declared ‘The Real Deal’. “After the last one, as everyone knows the way it went, to be back in Belfast fighting Lewis Crocker for a world title I think it’s a part of God’s plan.

“Everything in life is leading to this moment for me, so yeah, very, very excited now.”

The 26-year-old, who is two years younger than Crocker, acknowledges that boxing was always destined to be his path.

Donovan hails from a family deeply rooted in the sport, with his grandfather, also named Paddy, sporting Mike Tyson’s iconic facial tattoo.

The 13-time Irish champion recalls training on the pads with his father Martin from just three years of age.

“If you ask me can I do anything else, I’d probably tell you no, boxing has been my life,” stated Donovan. “Everything that I’ve been through in my life, inside and outside the boxing ring, I think has led me right to this moment in my career, so yeah, it’s all fallen into place.”

However, despite entering as a 9/2 outsider for the most significant bout of his career, there’s tremendous belief in Crocker’s corner that he can pull off a surprise victory.

The Belfast fighter’s manager, Jamie Conlan, anticipates a far more attacking display from his charge, whom he expects to “get on the attack from the first moment”.

“I see Belfast having a new world champion,” forecasts Conlan. “Last time we knew that Croc wasn’t 100% and we knew that wasn’t the real Lewis Crocker.

“Andy and Paddy are very smart. Andy is one of the smartest brains in Irish boxing. He knows as well that it wasn’t the real Lewis Crocker so they have prepared for the Lewis of old and the Lewis that they expected.

“He’s learned so much. He’s took himself away, based himself in Dubai, brought in nutritionists, strength and conditioning coaches, everyone kind of working together.

“He’s learned a lot from the last fight, seen a lot from the last fight, because that’s the best we’ve seen of Paddy up to that point and we’re expecting even better, but it just feels different.

“Windsor Park, 16,000, a stone’s throw from his house, no pressure. He carried the show last time, his first time headline, a lot of demands, a lot of pushing to do the tickets, this time it sold itself.”

He continued: “A world title fight in his hometown, in his home football stadium, in his own BT area code and to go in as the underdog with no pressure at all.

“Anybody who seen the last fight is thinking this is going to be a repeat. Now the weight is off his shoulder, the monkey’s off his back, he’s able to go out there be himself and be free and fight without caution.”

Eddie Hearn emphasised the massive opportunities awaiting the victor, including potential bouts against boxing’s biggest stars.

“I think one of the things that’s not being talked about as much as it should be is what is at stake for the winner here,” the promoter explained. “It’s not just the first all-Irish world title fight, the winner is going to be world welterweight champion.

“It’s a proper, established world championship at probably one of the most respected and famous weight classes in the sport.

“It’s going to open you up to a fight with Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, Conor Benn, Teofimo Lopez and a multi-million pound payday.”