Irish pride, undefeated records and a shot at the world title are all on the line when Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan collide at welterweight on Saturday night.
Belfast’s SSE Arena plays host to the showdown between hometown favourite Crocker (20-0, 11 KOs) and the classy betting favourite Donovan (14-0, 11 KOs), a Limerick native who can be assured of a hostile reception behind enemy lines.
Not that this is of undue concern to the Andy Lee-trained prospect.
WATCH: Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan on DAZN
“The Irish boxing scene has been starved for many years, especially down south,” Donovan said. “My goal is now to lead the way and lift the sport to another level. I believe I’m the fighter and the face of Irish boxing. I’m the person to do it. This is one of the best fights ever in Ireland.
“There’s more on the line than there ever has been before. This is the fight that the Irish fans demanded. It’s the pride of Ireland: who steps up into the limelight? Who gets the throne, puts their hand on the crown? I’m the better boxer, more skilful, I punch just as hard. I’ve an 80% knockout ratio and he’s 50%. Anyone that has shared the ring with me knows exactly how hard I punch. Maybe Lewis is underestimating my power, but he’ll soon find out.
“I’m the boxer: too slick, too skilful, too good. I win this fight by knockout. I believe I knock him out with a well-timed punch. It’ll be to the body or to the head. I think he’ll get careless, and he’ll walk onto a shot. I believe his lights will go out. I’ll turn them out.”
Unsurprisingly, given Donovan’s evidently oozing confidence, Crocker believes there might be an underestimated element in this final eliminator for Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis’ IBF title at 147 lbs. Ennis faces WBA champion Eimantas Stanionis in Atlantic City on April 12, and the IBF’s famously stringent approach to its mandatories being fulfilled means Crocker and Donovan are within touching distance of a massive championship showdown.
“I have the better resume for sure,” Crocker said. “There’s no doubt about that. Without a doubt I’m the heavier-handed guy. I’m the bigger puncher in this fight. He’s definitely underestimating me. I’m not underestimating him.
“Am I going to lose against Paddy Donovan? Absolutely f—— not. I’ve got under his skin already. He’s nervous. I’m too big, too strong. Nobody is going to stop me from getting to where I want to go.”
WATCH: Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan on DAZN
Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan full card results
- Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan; Welterweights
- Craig Richards vs. Padraig McCrory; Super Middleweights
- Kurt Walker vs. Leon Woodstock; Featherweights
- Tommy McCarthy vs. Steven Ward; Cruiserweights
- Ruadhan Farrell vs. Gerard Hughes; Super Bantamweights
- Shauna Browne vs. Elif Nur Turhan; Lightweights
- Jack O’Neill vs. Mohammed Wako; Super Bantamweights
- Aaron Bowen vs. Juan Cruz Cacheiro; Super Middleweights
Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan tune-in info
- Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025
- Location: Odyssey Arena – Belfast, UK
- Time: 5 p.m. GMT | 12 p.m. ET | 9 a.m. PT
- Main event start time (approx.): 10 p.m. GMT | 5 p.m. ET | 2 p.m. PT
- Live stream: DAZN
The Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan fight card will be available via DAZN. A DAZN monthly subscription costs £9.99 in the UK on a 12-month contract, or £19.99 month-to-month. An annual subscription will cost £99.99 in the U.K.
A DAZN monthly subscription is $19.99 on a 12-month contract or $24.99 month-to-month in the US. An annual subscription costs $224.99.
