The upcoming bout between Irish rivals Paddy Donovan and Lewis Crocker has been elevated to an IBF welterweight title eliminator, adding even more significance to the 'Point of Pride' clash. Donovan sees a chance to become Ireland's top male boxer and believes his life experiences have shaped him into a better fighter.
Gavan Casey HOW OFTEN DO we see it in professional boxing where one up-and-comer says of the other, ‘He needs me, I don’t need him’? Or there is the respectful alternative between two fighters billed by the public as domestic rivals but who are quietly fond of each other: ‘Let’s do it for a world title down the line.’ Limerick’s Paddy Donovan and Belfast’s Lewis Crocker have never bothered with such soundbites.
They are domestic rivals who might even dislike each other more privately than they let on publicly. ‘The Real Deal’ and ‘Croc’ are each unbeaten prospects with welterweight supremacy in sight. And their attitude has been, simply, ‘Feck a world title. Let’s do it ASAP.’ Their headline meeting at the SSE Arena in Crocker’s hometown of Belfast on 1 March has been billed by promoters Matchroom as ‘Point of Pride’. It’s more than that, though: the bout has been officially upgraded to an eliminator for the IBF 147-pound title currently held by American Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. And Donovan, a Traveller who incidentally was born in Ennis, Co. Clare but has been a Limerick man since childhood, sees added significance even beyond world-title gold: the Andy Lee-trained stylist spots an opportunity to cement his place as Ireland’s flagship male boxer. “There’s something different about a good Irish fighter and I believe I’m the next,” says Donovan (14-0, 11KOs). “I think having turned pro at 19 and now 25, it took many life changes since turning pro… It’s so much what I’ve learned in the gym that counts the most, as it is the ups and downs of life — becoming a husband and father, losing loved ones — that helped me to improve. “I’ve improved as a person and that helped me become a better fighter.” Donovan’s ‘Real Deal’ moniker naturally carries with it a weight of expectation. Advertisement Some boxers have worn it well. Evander Holyfield remains the sport’s only four-time world heavyweight champio
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