ENNIS FIGHTER, Paddy ‘Real Deal’ Donovan lost out on a controversial split-decision to Belfast boxer Lewis Crocker to miss out on winning the IBF world welterweight title.
Six months on from losing out to Croker in their IBF Welterweight Eliminator fight after Donovan was disqualified for hitting his opponent at the end of the eight-round with a flurry of combinations, there was more heartbreak for the ‘Real Deal’.
Crucial knockdowns in the third and fifth round by Crocker, the first sustained by Donovan in his career, were the defining moments in the bout. A wet canvas may have been a factor for the third round knockdown, the second was a missile from Crocker’s left hand which Donovan recovered well from. Apart from these blows, Paddy who was more aggressive and won more rounds seemed to shade the cagey bout.
There was a split decision from the judges who gave a verdict of 114-113, 114-112 and 111-115 following the twelve rounds.
‘Zombie’ by The Cranberries was the tune to which Donovan entered the ring in front of a crowd of 20,000 supporters in Windsor Park, Belfast. His corner included his trainer, Andy Lee, a former middleweight world champion and Joseph Parker, a heavyweight contender.
Positioning himself on the front foot, Donovan claimed the first two rounds before Crocker who was defensively sharper than their March fight landed the vital clipping shot in round three and he narrowly took the fourth. He produced a powerful left hook on Donovan in round five which served as the first proper knockdown of the Ennis fighter’s career.
When the twelve rounds concluded, both fighters celebrated such were the tight margins but it was Crocker who becomes the world champion.
