EMOTIONS will be running high in Belfast on Saturday night with a capacity crowd inside the Odyssey Arena to witness the coronation of Ireland’s next big boxing attraction.

Lewis Crocker has home advantage over Limerick rival Paddy Donovan, but it’s the younger man who will enter the ring as a marginal favourite in a battle of the undefeated.

The occasion is especially poignant as it’s also the first pro boxing card in the city since the tragic passing of John Cooney, who died after suffering a brain bleed in a Celtic title fight earlier this month.

THE CROC

Crocker, 28, has a perfect 20-0 record featuring 11 knockouts.

He started his career on the undercards of Carl Frampton and the Conlan brothers, but has steadily rose to become an attraction in his home city in his own right.

In 2023, he defeated another Irish rival and southpaw in Tyrone McKenna, once a fringe championship level contender.

Then followed that by scoring a fifth-round knockout over big-punching Mexican Jose Felix in his third main event, albeit across town at the Ulster Hall.

Donovan acted as chief support that night, scoring a stoppage of his own – a seventh-round KO of previously unstopped Argentinian Williams Herrera.

THE REAL DEAL

Donovan, 26, has been groomed by the Matchroom stable, under Eddie Hearn, and rose to prominence on a handful of Katie Taylor’s Dublin fight nights.

His own punch-perfect 14-0 record includes 11 knockouts, including the KO’s of two solid British opponents in Sean O’Maison and Danny Ball.

However, it’s undoubtedly his ninth-round TKO over Newcastle’s former British champion and European title challenger Lewis Ritson that’s taken Donovan to the cusp of title contention.

Both welterweights are recognised by all four of the world governing bodies, meaning the winner in Belfast will be in the conversation for a championship opportunity in the summer.

IT’S MY IRELAND

Despite only having a 55% KO ratio, Crocker is deemed as the puncher between the two. Donovan, with the same number of KOs in six few fighters, scores 78.5%.

But it’s the speed and the shot selection of the Andy Lee trained ‘Real Deal’ which poses the biggest threat.

A slick southpaw with blurring hand speed and fast feet, Donovan’s knockouts are down to timing and volume rather than one-punch power.

Crocker is the stronger man, rugged and determined, he likes to set a pace from behind a high guard, throwing hooks to head and body.

He’s also faced real adversity to get to this point.

Conah Walker pushed him right to the final bell in Birmingham last summer and ultimately it was a point deduction for repeated low-blows that swung the decision in Crocker’s favour.

But coming through a fight like that is an experience he can draw strength from. Donovan has hardly lost more than a round or two to get here.

If Crocker drags him into a brawl, wins a few of rounds and beats Donovan up a little, gets the fans off their seats, how will Paddy respond?

One thing is for sure, this fight will deliver. In either the most emphatic or dramatic way possible.

Just a week removed from Callum Smith’s war with Josh Buatsi, this too could be another Fight of the Year contender. But, rather like the cards in Riyadh, I believe we will get a clear victor.

It won’t be easy, and he’ll need to show heart and spirit that he’s not had to show before, but Paddy Donovan doesn’t go by ‘The Real Deal’ moniker for nothing.

Crocker will likely get up off the canvas to survive until the last bell, but the unanimous judges’ scorecards will crown Ireland’s next sporting superstar.

TIP: Donovan on Points (19/10)

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