An eagerly-anticipated rematch with a world title at stake tops a bill at Windsor Park, Belfast this Saturday, as Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan meet again for the vacant IBF welterweight title.
Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing promote Crocker vs Donovan and DAZN televise live worldwide.
Their original meeting was shrouded in controversy, as Donovan (14-1, 11 KOs) was deducted points for use of the head on two occasions.
The 26-year-old was wearing Crocker (21-0, 11 KOs) down, ahead handily on the cards, and having scored a ninth-round knockdown.
However, on the bell to end that round, the Limerick man landed punches after the bell that decked ‘The Croc’ once again, and the referee disqualified him.
Both were unbeaten coming into that clash at the SSE Arena in March, with Donovan on a run of five straight early wins, including a ninth-round stoppage of Lewis Ritson in May last year, while 2024 saw Crocker bank two solid wins, a fifth round stoppage of Jose Felix, and a points victory over Conah Walker.
With Jaron Ennis relinquishing his IBF belt to move up in weight, this fight now takes on extra significance.
Prediction: Donovan will learn the lessons from the first fight, and I expect him to grind Crocker down for a stoppage win in the middle rounds.
Agyarko faces Davis
A solid super welterweight 12-rounder on the undercard sees the unbeaten Caoimhin Agyarko take on the tricky Ishmael Davis.
Agyarko (17-0, 7 KOs) saw his momentum stall somewhat with just one fight in 2024, but has fought twice already in 2025, the last a majority decision win against Ryan Kelly over 10 in April.
Davis (13-2, 6 KOs) has lost his last two since upsetting Troy Williamson on points in March last year, but he ran Josh Kelly close in a majority verdict reverse before retiring after six against Serhii Bohachuk last December.
Prediction: Agyarko has been waiting for a meaningful fight to materialise, and he has one here. I expect him to rise to the occasion and win clearly on the cards.
McKenna meets Moran
There is another rematch as Tyrone McKenna (24-6-1, 7 KOs) runs it back with Dylan Moran (19-3, KO9), with the latter halted in two by McKenna last December.
Prediction: It should be repeat for McKenna in this one likely inside schedule.
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Remaining Undercard
The Irish super bantamweight title is on the line, and Ruadhan Farrell (7-1-1, 2 KOs) can defend his title for the first time with a points win against Matthew Boreland (5-0, 1 KO).
Team GB’s Pat Brown (3-0, 3 KOs) continues his education in eight round action, and the cruiserweight should score another early win, this time against Austine Nnamdi (12-5, 10 KOs).
The other eight-rounder is at middleweight, where Coventry’s Aaron Bowen (6-0, 4 KOs) should also win early against Argentina’s Carlos Miguel Ronner (7-5, 2 KOs).
The sole six-rounder sees the debut of Molly McCann, and after a popular spell in UFC, she can start her boxing odyssey with a points win at bantamweight against Kate Radomska (4-7).
In four round affairs, Donagh Keary (3-0) can outscore Caine Singh (2-7-2) at super bantamweight, and first-timer Kyle Smith should do the same against Connor Meanwell (2-29-1) at super welterweight.
Jim Donovan is another debutant, and he should start with a points win against Lukasz Barabasz (4-17, 2 KOs).
