Lewis Crocker stuns Paddy Donovan to win IBF world title

Report and thoughts from ringside in Belfast

Lewis Crocker is the new IBF welterweight champion after beating Paddy Donovan in Belfast. It was a strange fight. Close, tense, while never overly exciting, with little moments of intrigue sprinkled through.

“The only thing that matters right now is that Belfast has a new world champion,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. He also still has a marketable asset in Donovan, who remains a draw despite his 0-2 run on paper.

Crocker dropped Donovan twice, the second time with a huge left hand that had the Limerick man reeling. He made it through and got back to boxing, spearing the jab out, pushing Crocker on to the back foot. How much was he actually landing? Neither were landing a great deal, which made it a difficult fight to dissect.

The first fight was contentious due to the damage sustained by Crocker and ended controversially in a disqualification. This one will also be discussed deep into the night and across the week to come. The first knockdown Crocker scored, in round three, was a cuffing left hook as Donovan stepped in.

The second one was a legitimate skull shaker as Donovan ate leather at the close of the fifth round and quickly regained his senses the following round, which was a testament to his fitness.

I had a sneaking suspicion in the previews that Crocker might step off and make Donovan come to him. That’s how it played out, in his favour. Not that I expected him to win even by doing that. Such was the perceived talent gap between the pair. My figurative money was on Donovan to dominate. It didn’t turn out that way.

As for Crocker’s next move, the kind of names Eddie Hearn mentioned in the post-fight analysis -Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez, Rolly Romero etc- would make mincemeat of both these guys right now. Let ‘The Croc’ enjoy his moment and then see if they can snare his opponent of choice: Conor Benn.

Getting busy before the main event, Caoimhin Agyarko battled through a closed right eye to defeat Ishmael Davis by split decision. Agyarko received a count in the final round that turned the score razor-thin. I felt Agyarko did enough.

Tyrone ‘The Mighty Celt’ McKenna knocked out Dylan Moran for the second time in a row. Following on from his two-round Waterford splattering, Tyrone took seven rounds this time to do the business.

Pat Brown showed his boxing skills before removing Austine Nnamdi in round two. The Nigerian was dropped and then stopped on his feet by the referee.

‘Meatball’ Molly McCann was a step ahead of Kate Radmoska, dropping and later stopping the Pole, who introduced an unexpected kick in round two.

Ruadhan Farrell lost his super-bantamweight title to Matthew ‘Bam Bam’ Boreland by sixth-round knockout. Boreland dropped the Belfast man and forced Farrell’s corner to pull him before the seventh.

Flanked by trainer Ryan Burnett, well-supported Donagh Keary had his hands full with English journeyman Caine Singh over four spirited sessions. His full hands were left empty as Singh prevailed 39-37 in a shock.

Coventry puncher Aaron Bowen made it seven out of seven with a second-round knockout over Argentina’s Carlos Miguel Ronner. Bowen has his eyes on a Midlands Area title shot next, which Eddie Hearn approved.

Belfast first-timer Kyle Smith defeated Connor Meanwell 40-36 in their super-welterweight clash.

Jim Donovan opened the show with a 39-36 win over Poland’s Lukasz Barabasz. The Limerick debutant dropped his foe in round two. At least one Donovan won on the night.

Image Credits: The Sporting News

---

About Steve…

Current existence: Online editor at Boxing News Magazine.

Previous lives: Author (8 books), podcaster (500+ eps), scriptwriter for Motivedia channel, newspaper journalist, copywriter & educator.

Contact: stevenwellings1982@gmail.com