Lewis Crocker vs Paddy Donovan 2 fight week details
‘Days Like This’ is now just days away. The countdown to next weekend’s historic, all-Irish World Title clash in front of a sold-out stadium is officially on.
Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan collide in a blockbuster rematch this coming Saturday, September 13, at Belfast’s Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor with the vacant IBF World Welterweight Championship on the line – live worldwide on DAZN.
Crocker was victorious last time out, albeit in somewhat controversial circumstances when Donovan was denied by a disqualification.
For Crocker, who has spent the past several weeks in camp in Dubai with his trainer Billy Nelson, it was a hollow triumph – and one he is determined to put right in his mind when he headlines in front of what promises to be a buoyant, home crowd with the greatest prize of his career at stake just a stone’s throw from where he grew up.
“The first fight didn’t feel like a victory,” said Crocker.
“I’m focused on me, all the pressure is on him because I can only be better. If Paddy has prepared for the same man he fought in March, he’ll be in for the shock of his life.
“I’m fighting for a World Title at Windsor Park. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.”
Donovan, however, is confident that he will ruin Crocker’s dream and deliver upon his own when he crosses the border from his native Limerick. Fans in Limerick and Belfast will each fancy their own man in the rematch, and we have looked at which Irish bookmakers take bets from both the Republic and Northern Ireland.
Having worked hard under the expert tutelage of his trainer Andy Lee, Donovan believes he is in even better shape going into the rematch – and he is under no illusions on what he feels will be the eventual outcome.
“It’s my time,” said Donovan.
“I want to meet the best Lewis Crocker on September 13, no excuses.
“This fight has everything: two Irish fighters for the World Title in Belfast, it’s what dreams are made of.”
Full Fight Week event details are listed below. For the latest updates, follow @matchroomboxing on social media.
Fight Week Schedule
Wednesday, September 10: Public Workouts
Venue: Victoria Square Shopping Centre
Address: 1 Victoria Square, Belfast BT1 4QG
Timings: Media arrivals from 3.30pm; Workout starts at 4pm
Media interviews are available with selected fighters. Workout timings as follows:
16:20 – Ruadhan Farrell
16:25 – Matthew Boreland
16:30 – Molly McCann
16:40 – Pat Brown
16:50 – Dylan Moran
17:00 – Tyrone McKenna
17:10 – Caoimhín Agyarko
17:20 – Ishmael Davis
17:30 – Paddy Donovan
17:40 – Lewis Crocker
Thursday, September 11: Press Conference
Venue: The ICC, Studio
Address: 2 Lanyon Pl, Belfast BT1 3WH
Timings: Media arrivals from 12pm; Press Conference starts at 1pm
Media interviews are available with selected fighters. Kindly note that one-on-one interviews with the Promoter are not guaranteed for all media – and Matchroom Boxing does not operate a ‘queue’ system.
Friday, September 12: Weigh-In
Venue: The ICC, Studio
Address: 2 Lanyon Pl, Belfast BT1 3WH
Timings: Media arrivals from 5pm; Fighters on the scales from 6pm
Saturday, September 13: Fight Day 5k
Media are warmly invited to attend and take part. Details will be published in due course on Matchroom Boxing’s social media @matchroomboxing