PADDY ‘The Real Deal’ Donovan of Limerick will fight rival Lewis Crocker for the vacant IBF Welterweight World title at Windsor Park, Belfast, on Saturday night next.
This historic clash will be the first time two boxers from the island of Ireland have met for a title.
The fight between the rivals earlier this year ended in highly controversial fashion with Crocker taking the win by disqualification at the SSE Arena.
An appeal from 26-year-old Donovan’s team resulted in the IBF granting a rematch which would again serve as a final eliminator for the world title – but with Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis moving up to Super-Welterweight, the huge rematch will now be for the vacant world title.
“It’s been challenging and different (since then); I can’t say it hasn’t been. I really thought the rematch would happen, but now it’s for the world title. I can’t think of anything better than that for me. It’s part of God’s plan,” Donovan told the Limerick Post.
“It is my time to become one of the best fighters in the world,” he added.
“I know what it takes to beat him and I’m going to do it this Saturday night. Everything has come together. This is the best I’ve ever been, no excuses.”
Donovan’s coach is former world champion Andy Lee of Castleconnell, who shares management duties with New York attorney Keith Sullivan.
“In boxing,” Lee noted, “nothing is given. It has to be earned. So, I feel like with this training camp, Padd is earning the right to step in there and become a world champion.”
Crocker-Donovan 2 will stream live on DAZN.
On an explosive undercard is a professional debut by Donovon’s cousin Jim Donovan against Lukasz Szczepaniank (Poland).
