Matchroom stablemates Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan will dive headfirst into a title bout for the vacant IBF welterweight title. The two have been confirmed to be headlining a Matchroom “Days Like This” show at Windsor Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on September 13th, with the victor set to become the new IBF champion of the 147-pound division.
Northern Irish/British welterweight (147 lbs) contender Lewis Crocker (21-0, 11 KO’s) and Irish contender Paddy Donovan (14-1, 11 KO’s) currently occupy the #1 and #3 spots [with the #2 spot left vacant] on the IBF’s 147-pound rankings respectively, making them the most suitable challengers for the IBF title that was recently relinquished by Jaron Ennis.
With both fighters having fought each other previously on March 1st and signed to the same promotion of Matchroom, there were few barriers preventing the fight; culminating in the promotion announcing the upcoming bout to be headlining a Belfast-based show on September 13.
Crocker and Donovan not only share a past together having fought each other previously, but with a world title now on the line, an extra dimension has been bestowed upon a fight that will see two Irishmen clash head-to-head for one of the most important trophies of their career.
The fight, set to be held in Belfast, Northern Ireland, like the first match is further considered Crocker’s hometown and birth place. Donovan hails from Ireland himself, which is independent from the UK as opposed to Northern Ireland.
The first meeting between the two ended controversially with Crocker ending up winning by disqualification in the 8th round [of their 12-round fight] despite losing by unanimous decision (UD) according to the judges’ scorecards. The disqualification occurred after Paddy Donovan hit Crocker after the bell, despite Donovan having been ahead and the knockdown Crocker suffered in the same round ― compounding with the cuts Crocker suffered on both eyes.
With a rematch having been sorely-needed following Crocker’s disputed victory, the upcoming “bout “Days Like This” Matchroom card is set to potentially herald in both a new world champion and provide a more fitting conclusion as opposed to the events that occurred this past March.
