Crocker rejects Donovan's 'dive' claims
'It couldn't have worked out better' - Donovan
The fighters met at Windsor Park on Monday for a media call to launch their second fight before moving to a press conference in the city where Donovan accused his rival of making the most of the late punch in March."It couldn't have panned out any better for me after the controversy after the first fight," said the 26-year-old who suffered his first career blemish due to the disqualification."The IBF ruled in our favour to get this world title over the line and I'm happy to be back in Belfast. I can't wait to get in there on 13 September and put on a show."You can ask Lewis if he took a dive or I knocked him out after the bell. I think he took a dive to get me disqualified. I'd been winning every round and was in a comfortable position, so the only way for Lewis to get the win was by taking a dive."After the last fight, my confidence is only growing and I can get the knockout this time."
'I have to be much better in the rematch' - Crocker
Crocker insisted a rematch is warranted and he was keen to make it happen, but nonetheless, is adamant the right call was made at the end of their first fight.The 28-year-old put his performance in March down to "an off night" but acknowledges he will go into the rematch as an outsider after opinions were split before their first fight.He accepts he will need a much better performance to leave no room for debate this time around but shot down Donovan's jibes by saying his rival simply paid the price for breaking the rules."I agreed with the decision, but also agreed there should be a rematch," he said."He didn't knock me out. My eye was shut and I was in trouble at that stage. Paddy made the mistake and paid for it."Crocker added he will be a "massive underdog" this time around."Nobody wanted the fight to end like that, including myself, and I know I'm a lot better fighter than what I showed. The next day, I rang Jamie (Conlan, manager) and told him to get the rematch sorted."Everything has worked out. We were fighting in an eliminator originally, but now it's for the title. It's everything I've dreamed of since I was a kid and all I've ever wanted."I have to be better. Paddy is a great fighter and showed that in the last fight. I'm a massive underdog in this fight - nobody's expecting me to win. To pull off the win, it would be the stuff of dreams."
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