Crocker v Donovan 2 – your guide to world title fight

IBF welterweight world title: Lewis Crocker v Paddy Donovan

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

It’s time for Lewis Crocker’s rematch with Paddy Donovan – and this time the stakes are raised.

March’s fight was filled with controversy and drama as Donovan was disqualified after the eighth round for a punch after the bell.

The rematch on Saturday will take place at Windsor Park, Northern Ireland’s national football stadium, which is expected to be sold out.

The IBF welterweight title, which was vacated by Jaron Ennis, is on the line as both men look to achieve their dream of becoming world champion.

There was a lot of hype around Crocker’s bout with Donovan at the SSE Arena in March, but few could have expected it to turn out as it did.

Both fighters were undefeated heading into the IBF title eliminator and, after a lively start, Donovan started to impose himself on the bout.

Crocker, from Northern Ireland, was struggling with a cut above his right eye from the third round as ‘Real Deal’ Donovan moved ahead on the scorecards.

However, things took a turn when Donovan was docked a point for using his elbow in the sixth round, and the Irish fighter lost another point in the the eighth for using his head.

Things then came to a sudden conclusion as Donovan sent Crocker to the canvas and had started to celebrate, but that was cut short when referee Marcus McDonnell disqualified the Limerick fighter for landing the blow after the bell.

It was a controversial end to a dramatic night of boxing, and now they will get to do it all over again.

The disqualification was the first defeat of Donovan’s career, while Lewis Crocker extended his unbeaten record to 21 wins, with 11 knockouts.

Paddy Donovan: “It couldn’t have panned out any better for me after the controversy after the first fight.

“The IBF ruled in our favour to get this world title over the line and I’m happy to be back in Belfast. I can’t wait to get in there and put on a show.

“You can ask Lewis if he took a dive or I knocked him out after the bell. I think he took a dive to get me disqualified. I’d been winning every round and was in a comfortable position, so the only way for Lewis to get the win was by taking a dive.

“After the last fight, my confidence is only growing and I can get the knockout this time.”

Lewis Crocker: “I agreed with the decision, but also agreed there should be a rematch. He didn’t knock me out. My eye was shut and I was in trouble at that stage. Paddy made the mistake and paid for it.

“Nobody wanted the fight to end like that, including myself, and I know I’m a lot better fighter than what I showed. The next day, I rang Jamie (Conlan, manager) and told him to get the rematch sorted.

“Everything has worked out. We were fighting in an eliminator originally, but now it’s for the title. It’s everything I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid and all I’ve ever wanted.

Belfast loves a big night of boxing and it is fitting Windsor Park will be the venue for Saturday’s highly-contested title bout.

Northern Ireland’s national football stadium last hosted a boxing bout in August 2018 when local favourite Carl Frampton took on Luke Jackson.

In front of a crowd of 20,000, Frampton produced the goods when he stopped the Australian in the ninth round in what would be his final appearance on home soil.

Lewis Crocker v Paddy Donovan – IBF world welterweight title

Running order to be confirmed; first bell at 16:30 BST

Former UFC and Cage Warriors star Molly ‘Meatball’ McCann will make her professional boxing debut against a yet to be announced opponent.

The 35-year-old announced her retirement from MMA in March after losing to Alexia Thainara in London and will now move into the boxing world.

There is plenty of local interest, too, as the undefeated Caoimhin Agyarko will take on Ishmael Davis.

Agyarko, 28, is unbeaten in 17 bouts and last fought Ryan Kelly in April ti win the WBA continental super-welterweight title, while England’s Davis holds a 13-2 record and has yet to fight in 2025.

Tyrone McKenna is no stranger to a battle in the ring and he will take on Irish fighter Dylan Moran, who he defeated with a first-round stoppage in December.

Linfield are the regulars at Windsor Park, but it’s Coleraine against Cliftonville on the undercard as Bannsiders fan Matty Boreland and Reds’ supporter Ruadhan Farrell face off.

You can listen to Crocker’s rematch with Donovan live on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Live and Sports Extra 2.

Commentator Ronald McIntosh will be joined by former undisputed light-welterweight world champion Josh Taylor and boxing expert Steve Bunce.

Coverage starts at 19:00 BST on Sports Extra 2, and on 5 Live for the main event at 22:00 BST.