Live |
Crocker beats Paddy Donovan by split decision after there were also wins for fellow Belfast fighters Caoimhin Agyarko and Tyrone McKenna
Lewis Crocker celebrates defeating Paddy Donovan in their IBF World Welterweight title bout(Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Lewis Crocker punches Paddy Donovan during the IBF World Welterweight Title fight (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Lewis Crocker (left) and Paddy Donovan during their IBF World Welterweight title bout (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Lewis Crocker (left) and Paddy Donovan during their IBF World Welterweight title bout (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Lewis Crocker before his IBF World Welterweight title bout against Paddy Donovan at Windsor Park (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Caoimhin Agyarko (right) and Ishmael Davis during their WBA Continental super-welterweight title bout at Windsor Park. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Caoimhin Agyarko before his WBA Continental super-welterweight title bout against Ishmael Davis at Windsor Park (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Tyrone McKenna celebrates victory at Windsor Park (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Tyrone McKenna walked to the ring to the sound of Kneecap’s H.O.O.D. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Austine Nnamdi reacts following his cruiserweight bout against Patrick Brown
Molly McCann, left, and Kate Radomska during their super-bantamweight bout
Coleraine’s Matthew Boreland celebrates victory against Ruadhan Farrell of Belfast in the Irish title fight at Windsor Park
Belfast’s Lewis Crocker has won the IBF World Welterweight title at a sold-out Windsor Park.
The 28-year-old beat Paddy Donovan in the pair’s rematch after their clash at the SSE Arena earlier this year.
Crocker twice knocked the Limerick fighter down in the early rounds, and managed to hold on despite a late revival from Donovan to secure a win by split decision after 12 rounds.
The judges’ cards were scored: 115-111 Donovan / 114-112 Crocker / 114-113 Crocker.
Earlier, there were wins for Belfast duo Caoimhin Agyarko and Tyrone McKenna, while Coleraine’s Matthew Boreland beat Ruadhan Farrell after six rounds.
Agyarko was taken the distance by Ishmael Davis before winning on split decision in a real thriller.
McKenna, meanwhile, entered the ring to the sounds of Kneecap’s H.O.O.D., but it was Dylan Moran who was left feeling sick in the head after a stopping in the seventh round.
Follow the reaction on our live blog:
Key updates
AGYARKO WINS ON SPLIT DECISION
CROCKER ON FAMILY
“This belt belongs to my parents. They got me to where I am today. This belt belongs to them as much as me. I owe them everything and I am so grateful.”
CROCKER CALLS OUT BENN
“A great fight in my opinion for fans in the UK, would be myself and Conor Benn. Let’s make that happen!”
CROCKER ON THE WORLD TITLE
“A lot of people gave my stick after the first fight. Well tomorrow, when you do your wee post make sure you write…Lewis Crocker World f*****g champion”
That’s a huge, huge shock.
Northern Ireland has a new WORLD CHAMPION and his name is Lewis Crocker.
The Belfast man has stunned Paddy Donovan, stunned Irish boxing and stunned the critics to win the IBF World Title.
Crocker beats Donovan, once again!
CROCKER WINS ON SPLIT DECISION
115-111 Donovan
114-112 Crocker
114-113 Crocker
On my card, Donovan wins by four points.
However, this is a question of style and what the judges prefer. If a judge prefers Crocker’s significant blows as opposed to Donovan’s constant scoring, it may be closer than four points.
But it’s hard to see anything other than a Donovan win. Let’s go to the cards…
ROUND TWELVE
Paddy Donovan does enough to win that round despite swallowing a couple of big punches from Lewis Crocker. Donovan landed more punches and was the busier – a constant theme throughout the fight
There goes the final bell!
Both men celebrate, but Paddy Donovan’s celebrations are much more convincing.
Donovan is on top but Crocker is throwing some big punches. Donovan swallows a big one.
A minute to go
The bell goes for the final round. Can Donovan hang on for victory? Can Crocker land a killer blow?
Windsor Park is rocking
ROUND ELEVEN
Again, I’d say Donovan won that won that. He was busier, throwing and landing more punches. It feels like Crocker needs a knockout in the final round. Or at least a knockdown.
Two rounds to go. By my card, I have Donovan two two points up.
ROUND TEN
It took Paddy Donovan five or six rounds, but he has figured Lewis Crocker and his tactics out. He’s now in total control and on his way to victory.
However, in the middle of all that Crocker hurt the Limerick man with a powerful right-hander. The fear is still there for Donovan and that fear is real.
ROUND NINE
There was some good work from Lewis Donovan in the ninth round, who caught Donovan with another powerful punch. This time the Limerick man rides it, and goes on to land more punches of his own. Donovan takes that one.
Donovan has landed 36 punches to Crocker’s 22.
ROUND EIGHT
That’s a round for Paddy Donovan. He is in his rhythm now and is dictating things. He may well out point Crocker despite the two knockdowns.
However, he must be living in fear that Crocker could catch him with another powerful punch.
FRAMPTON ON THE CARDS
“I have it level. Lewis had the two 10-8s but Paddy has done more outside of that. However, some of the rounds have been very tight and could go either way”
ROUND SEVEN
Another tight round, but Donovan probably landed enough to claim it.
Whatever happens from here, Crocker has proved a lot of people wrong. He has proved that he is capable of competing at this level.
Donovan asks his corner, ‘Am I winning?’ They tell him he is, but I’m not convinced.
At the half way point, I’d have Crocker up by two points. I’ve given Donovan the first and Crocker the sixth, but both were hard to call for different reasons.
Lewis Crocker celebrates defeating Paddy Donovan in their IBF World Welterweight title bout(Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Watch: Brawl in crowd at Crocker v Donovan fight at the SSE Arena