Lewis Crocker triumphs over Paddy Donovan in historic Windsor Park rematch, becomes world champ
Lewis Crocker became the new IBF world welterweight title holder after beating Paddy Donovan in a rematch at Windsor Park in front of a record boxing crowd in Belfast
Lewis Crocker has been crowned the new IBF world welterweight champion after defeating Paddy Donovan at Windsor Park for the second time. Hailing from Sandy Row, Belfast's own Crocker thrilled the nearly 20,000-strong crowd by defying the odds against his Limerick rival in the first ever world title clash between two Irish fighters, securing a win by split decision.
While fireworks were anticipated in this rematch, it was more of a slow burn, with 'The Croc' altering his tactics to floor Donovan - twice - for the first time in his career.
This was enough to secure a 2-1 win on the three judges' cards, with the scoring 114-113 and 114-112 in Crocker's favour against 115-111 for Donovan.
Crocker, aged 29, had previously triumphed at the same venue back in March, but was dominated in the fight until Donovan was disqualified for hitting his opponent after the bell at the end of the eighth roun.
Donovan's team immediately appealed as 'The Real Deal' claimed he hadn't heard the bell due to the noise around the venue, leading to a rematch being granted.
When Jaron 'Boots' Ennis decided to vacate his title, the path was cleared for the pair to return to the ring with both the stakes and their pay packets significantly increased.
Crocker was under pressure to step up his game against his opponent, a southpaw trained by Andy Lee. He vowed to come out all guns blazing, but the opening was rather cagey from both men as they spent the first few rounds sizing each other up.
In a surprising turn of events, Crocker switched tactics from the first fight, opting for patience and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Donovan found himself on the canvas midway through the third round, a combination of a slip and a powerful left from Crocker causing him to lose balance.
Clearly disgruntled, he was forced to take a standing count, but predictably, he came back fighting before the bell. Both fighters unleashed powerful shots halfway through the fourth, though it was Crocker who was sent reeling.
However, he quickly responded with another left to Donovan's head.
Donovan seemed to be getting to grips with Crocker's strategy, but just before the end of the fifth, he was floored again - for the third time, Crocker's left broke through his defence.
Donovan quickly got back on his feet but had to endure another count, and the fight returned to its earlier, slower pace for the next few rounds. As O'Donovan advanced right on the bell in the eighth, Crocker couldn't help but smile, recalling his opponent's downfall from their first bout.
The Limerick man celebrated after the ninth, a better round for him, but Crocker made his presence felt in the next with some heavy hitting.
The final rounds saw an increase in intensity, and both men claimed victory at the end. However, it was Crocker who was declared the winner.
Earlier, Belfast's own Caoimhin Agyarko secured the most significant win of his career so far against Leeds' Ishmael Davis in a thrilling 12-round match that went the distance, with Agyarko emerging victorious by a split decision.
Tyrone McKenna, another local lad, took care of business against Waterford's Dylan Moran in another welterweight rematch, forcing a stoppage in the eighth of the scheduled 10 rounds.
Despite suffering an early cut above his left eye, McKenna dominated much of the fight.
Former UFC star Molly McCann also celebrated a win in her first professional boxing match.