'crocker V Donovan Title Fight Could Define Careers'

IBF welterweight world title: Lewis Crocker v Paddy Donovan

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

Coverage: Live connected BBC Radio 5 Live and Sports Extra 2, pinch unrecorded matter commentary connected BBC Sport website and app

When Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan measurement done nan ropes astatine Belfast's Windsor Park connected Saturday night, winning nan vacant IBF welterweight title will beryllium their superior goal, but nan prize is truthful overmuch much greater.

Six months connected from their controversial title eliminator astatine nan city's SSE Arena which saw Belfast's Crocker (21-0,11 KOs) awarded triumph by measurement of disqualification, they will meet again pinch some seeking redemption arsenic 2 fighters from nan land of Ireland title a world title for nan first time.

Ordinarily, a rematch leaves 1 combatant seeking adjustments to overturn a loss, but successful this instance, it is nan victor of nan first conflict viewed arsenic nan 1 pinch it each to do.

At nan clip of nan stoppage successful March, Donovan led connected each 3 scorecards contempt being docked a constituent successful rounds six and 8 for fouls.

A morganatic knockdown successful nan ninth appeared to time off nan Limerick man connected nan cusp of victory, but continuing his onslaught aft nan doorbell sounded prompted referee Marcus McDonnell to rumor his 3rd onslaught and propulsion Donovan out, resulting successful his first profession reverse successful his 15th fight.

A consequent entreaty to nan IBF from Donovan and his squad saw a rematch ordered.

With champion Jaron 'Boots' Ennis vacating nan title to move into nan light-middleweight division, Crocker and Donovan will vie for nan loop pinch upwards of 20,000 fans expected astatine nan location of Northern Ireland football.

"Neither feline has knowledgeable what they are astir to experience," promoter Eddie Hearn said this week.

"This is simply a due world title astatine 1 of nan astir respected weight classes successful nan athletics that will unfastened you up to a conflict pinch Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, Conor Benn, Teofimo Lopez and a multi-million payday."

As precocious arsenic 2 years ago, this match-up was not 1 that dominated nan schedule successful boxing circles.

Crocker, who fought astatine Windsor Park successful 2018 connected nan undercard of Carl Frampton v Luke Jackson, had caught nan attraction pinch a drawstring of knockout wins early successful his career.

However, his momentum stalled and it took a breakout triumph against chap Belfast man Tyrone McKenna successful December 2023 for galore to return announcement again.

That triumph came 7 days aft Donovan made a breakthrough of his own, stopping Danny Ball successful Dublin connected nan Katie Taylor v Chantelle Cameron II undercard.

With Matchroom promoting some events, nan wheels were abruptly successful mobility to put Crocker and Donovan connected a collision course, which yet came to walk successful March.

Prior to that fight, opinions were divided arsenic to which of nan brace would travel retired connected top, but that does not look to beryllium nan lawsuit this clip pinch Donovan a beardown favourite.

Despite nan crushing disappointment of really nan first conflict ended, 'The Real Deal' has oozed confidence, striding pinch a outpouring successful his measurement during this week's build-up.

"My assurance is done nan tile and you are going to spot connected Saturday nighttime conscionable really bully I am," said 26-year-old Donovan.

"Lewis is simply a bully combatant – I'm not going to return that distant from him. He does a batch of things well, but he besides makes a batch of mistakes. I conscionable deliberation I tin capitalise connected those mistakes that he makes. I deliberation I'm a amended puncher, that I person much skill, I've sewage much heart, and I've sewage a amended engine. I'm amended successful each azygous section than Lewis. I americium going to extremity Lewis Crocker."

If Donovan's attack tin beryllium described arsenic bullish, Crocker's had been low-key, seemingly contented pinch nan underdog tag.

He was happy to prosecute successful nan verbal sparring anterior to nan first conflict pinch Donovan, but this clip said small each week until nan poker look collapsed astatine Friday's ceremonial weigh-in aft scaling 146.6lbs to Donovan's 145.7.

"I conscionable can't hold to soundlessness each nan doubters," said Crocker.

"I showed past clip and connected Saturday night, without a doubt, I will show that. I believe, without a doubt, that I sound Paddy Donovan out."

Crocker whitethorn person underperformed successful nan first fight, but his strategies besides seemed off.

His precocious defender pinch elbows tucked in, while staying connected Donovan's toes, whitethorn person smothered nan Limerick man initially, but arsenic nan rounds ticked by, Donovan recovered a travel having made his ain adjustments.

Perhaps starting overmuch faster and letting his dense hands spell early is what nan Belfast man needs to do successful bid to stamp immoderate authority connected proceedings.

However, it is highly improbable Donovan and his coach, Andy Lee, person not considered that anticipation and they excessively will apt effort and tweak their attack to enactment 1 measurement ahead.

Lee has called connected his man to beryllium "ruthless" this clip around, arsenic while his silky southpaw skills and superb footwork are awesome attributes, nan Limerick man besides carries power.

What fto him down past clip was indiscipline arsenic while Crocker was crouching pinch his caput guardant astatine times, Donovan was penalised for usage of nan caput and elbow earlier nan last offence saw his fantabulous capacity undone.

The expertise to grip nan juncture will play a portion successful what is perchance a career-defining nighttime for nan pair.

History awaits, arsenic do nan keys to nan kingdom, vindication, glory and redemption.

"This is not conscionable a rematch, but a rematch pinch edge," said BBC 5 Live's Steve Bunce.

"If you get to look astatine nan extremity of that (first) fight, it was unthinkable and we are going to get to spell complete that crushed again, truthful that's what makes this special.

"Paddy Donovan has sewage nan rematch he wanted, Lewis Crocker has sewage a conflict successful beforehand of 20,000 group he wanted and Belfast has a nighttime it will retrieve for a agelong time."