AN eagerly awaited rematch between Limerick’s Paddy ‘The Real Deal’ Donovan and Lewis Crocker is likely to take place at Windsor Park (possible capacity 16,000) in Belfast in September.
A meeting between the pair at the city’s SSE Arena (attendance 8,500) in March ended in controversy when Croker won via disqualification but the governing body subsequently ordered a rematch.
It was anticipated that such fight again would be a final eliminator for the IBF Welterweight title of Jason Ennis, but in a twist, Ennis has now moved up to Light-middleweight.
Thus the clash between the 26-year-old Donovan and Crocker will be a first all-Irish World title fight.
“That will obviously add a big storyline to the fight. The first fight ended in controversy and this is their chance to prove who deserves to get that win and become world champion,” commented Matchroom Boxing chief Executive Frank Smith to the BBC.
After his appeal win in May, Donovan said: “I am very proud of the support Keith (Sullivan, co-manager) and Andy (Lee, trainer and past World Middleweight Champion) provided to me during the appeal process.”
“I have a great team around me. I am pleased with the outcome of the appeal. I am eager to get back in the ring to showcase my boxing abilities once again and continue on the path to a world title.
“The world saw what happened on March 1st. We look forward to setting the record straight,” said Lee.
Added Sullivan: “The rematch will be even bigger than the first fight. The crowd and fans around the globe absolutely loved it; the atmosphere in the arena was electric. It was a great promotion put on by Matchroom and it is unfortunate it ended as it did, but now Paddy will set the record straight and continue his quest for a world title.”
