Category News

IBF welterweight world title: Lewis Crocker v Paddy Donovan

Venue: Windsor Park, Belfast Date: Saturday, 13 September

Coverage: Live on BBC Radio 5 Live and Sports Extra 2, with live text commentary on BBC Sport website and app

Lewis Crocker says he “wasn’t good enough” in his first fight against Paddy Donovan, but will be “the best version of myself” in Saturday’s rematch at Windsor Park with the IBF world welterweight title at stake.

Crocker won the first fight between the pair at Belfast’s SSE Arena in March by way of disqualification as Donovan, who was ahead on all three cards, was thrown out at the end of the ninth round for punching after the bell, having already been deducted points for fouls.

That was a final eliminator for the IBF title which was then in the possession of Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, but with the American opting to vacate and move up to light-middleweight, the all-Irish rematch was upgraded to world title status.

Opinions were split prior to the first meeting as to which of the pair would come out on top, but Donovan goes into Saturday’s rematch as a firm favourite.

Crocker acknowledges his performance in March was well below what was required and is determined to produce much better this time.

“I’ll leave my talking for the ring,” Crocker said.

“I’m ready to put on the biggest performance of my life on Saturday.

Both men went through a light public workout at Belfast’s Victoria Square on Wednesday with Donovan joined in the ring by his cousin Jim who will make his debut on Saturday’s undercard.

Crocker opted for some shadow boxing as he reaffirmed his desire to keep his powder dry until fight night, but says he will “relish the moment” when he makes his way to the ring.

“Everything has gone to plan,” the undefeated 28-year-old told BBC Sport NI’s Thomas Kane.

“It’s the biggest night of my life on Saturday, so I’m ready to get it done.

“It’s going to be crazy. Even the atmosphere here for the public workouts is exceptional, so I’m planning on a big night on Saturday.

Jim Goodwin has signed a new 12-month rolling contract as Dundee United manager, saying the Tangerines are “only scratching the surface of what we can achieve together”.

Former St Mirren and Aberdeen boss Goodwin, 43, took over at Tannadice in March 2023 but could not prevent United being relegated.

They returned to the top flight at the first time of asking by winning the Scottish Championship.

And, last season, Goodwin’s side qualified for the Conference League qualifiers by finishing fourth in the Premiership.

“It’s been a tremendous journey throughout the past two years and I’m incredibly pleased with what we’ve built here.

“I said when I arrived that I wanted to give the supporters a team that they can be proud of and I believe, as a collective, we have achieved that thus far.

“We’re building something sustainable, something with identity, and I truly believe we’re only scratching the surface of what we can achieve together.”

Chief executive Luigi Capuano added: “The togetherness between Jim and the board puts us in the best possible position to prolong our prosperity and achieve our long-term ambitions of regularly competing for the top six, reaching the latter stages of cup competitions and returning to the European stage.

“The terrific connection that has been nurtured between the club and the supporters was a huge factor in Jim’s decision to remain here, as he sees further opportunity to build upon the strong foundations that have been laid since his arrival with the backing of everyone connected with the club.”

The chair of the Newcastle United Supporters’ Trust says it “stings” that dozens of tickets for the Champions League home game against Barcelona were bought by a school based nearly 200 miles away.

Such was the demand, there were over 110,000 users in an online queue as remaining seats for next week’s hotly anticipated opening group match at St James’ Park went on sale on Tuesday.

But it has emerged that 45 tickets for the 18 September fixture had already been claimed by the High School of Dundee, which purchased them after being “approached by an approved provider”.

This comes at a time when members are “fighting every week to get a ticket”, in the words of Lisa Mole, chair of the supporters’ trust.

“We are not saying that we don’t want young fans to be brought into the stadium and to experience the matches,” she said. “I just think there’s such a consensus at the minute about how bad the ticketing situation is that anything like this adds fuel to the fire.

“We have members who pay a membership fee every year who are not guaranteed a ticket and we have had numerous members contact us who did not get one ticket in the ballot last season.

It is understood that Newcastle did not supply any tickets directly to the school group.

A similar number of students from the Dundee independent school previously took in Newcastle’s most recent Champions League game against AC Milan in 2023.

Regarding the Barcelona game tickets, a spokesman for the school said: “The High School of Dundee was approached by an approved provider and the tickets were bought as part of a group package.”

Buying tickets from sources other than directly from a club is not necessarily a new phenomenon in the game.

David Burt, a former Newcastle player, is a sports sales consultant at GB Sports Tours in north-east England.

Burt, who has “never been successful in the ballot” as a Newcastle fan, has seen it both ways.

“We have had school groups from up here in Newcastle and various areas going to Man City,” he said. “Sometimes they might be playing Newcastle or another good team and have said, ‘Can we get tickets for a game?'”

Newcastle season ticket holders were able to guarantee their ticket for all of the club’s Champions League home games by joining the cup scheme.

The rest were then split.

The supporters’ trust explained how some tickets were balloted and others were placed on general sale to those with a club membership – which costs £37 for an adult and £20 for a child – and to season ticket holders who did not enter the cup scheme.

The chair of the Newcastle United Supporters’ Trust says it “stings” that dozens of tickets for the Champions League home game against Barcelona were bought by a school based nearly 200 miles away.

Such was the demand, there were over 110,000 users in an online queue as remaining seats for next week’s hotly anticipated opening group match at St James’ Park went on sale on Tuesday.

But it has emerged that 45 tickets for the 18 September fixture had already been claimed by the High School of Dundee, which purchased them after being “approached by an approved provider”.

This comes at a time when members are “fighting every week to get a ticket”, in the words of Lisa Mole, chair of the supporters’ trust.

“We are not saying that we don’t want young fans to be brought into the stadium and to experience the matches,” she said. “I just think there’s such a consensus at the minute about how bad the ticketing situation is that anything like this adds fuel to the fire.

“We have members who pay a membership fee every year who are not guaranteed a ticket and we have had numerous members contact us who did not get one ticket in the ballot last season.

It is understood that Newcastle did not supply any tickets directly to the school group.

A similar number of students from the Dundee independent school previously took in Newcastle’s most recent Champions League game against AC Milan in 2023.

Regarding the Barcelona game tickets, a spokesman for the school said: “The High School of Dundee was approached by an approved provider and the tickets were bought as part of a group package.”

Buying tickets from sources other than directly from a club is not necessarily a new phenomenon in the game.

David Burt, a former Newcastle player, is a sports sales consultant at GB Sports Tours in north-east England.

Burt, who has “never been successful in the ballot” as a Newcastle fan, has seen it both ways.

“We have had school groups from up here in Newcastle and various areas going to Man City,” he said. “Sometimes they might be playing Newcastle or another good team and have said, ‘Can we get tickets for a game?'”

Newcastle season ticket holders were able to guarantee their ticket for all of the club’s Champions League home games by joining the cup scheme.

The rest were then split.

The supporters’ trust explained how some tickets were balloted and others were placed on general sale to those with a club membership – which costs £37 for an adult and £20 for a child – and to season ticket holders who did not enter the cup scheme.