14-05-2025
Lewis Crocker v Paddy Donovan rematch off the cards for Windsor Park
The much-anticipated rematch between Paddy Donovan and Lewis Crocker now looks set to take place in the SSE Arena, the venue of their first bout.
This is despite hopes that the clash would be held in Windsor Park, the home of Northern Irish football.
It appears the outdoor venue would be too expensive to host the fight, according to Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn.
The promoter told The Ring magazine: 'There's now a very good chance it won't be at Windsor... We will probably now do it at the arena.
'The issue with going outside is, with the costs and everything, you've got to be doing more than 20,000 tickets to make the delta positive of doing it in an arena with 9,000. That's a huge amount of tickets.
'Would it do 15 or 16,000? Probably. And don't get me wrong, I love an outdoor show. But there's also a lot to be said about going into an absolutely packed out arena. The atmosphere last time was ******* mental and it'll be even more wild the second time around.
'We are just finalising everything with the two fighters, and in late August or maybe early September I think you'll see the rematch and the arena looks most likely.'
The pair first met on March 1 in a final eliminator for the IBF welterweight title, with Donovan controlling the early stages.
The fight was soon awarded to Crocker after Donovan landed a punch on the Belfast native after the bell sounded at the end of the eighth round.
Donovan's camp was furious with the decision, as he had already been deducted points by referee Marcus McDonnell for using his elbow and head illegally in rounds six and eight.
The Limerick fighter's trainer Andy Lee said: "Marcus McDonnell's performance was a disgrace.
"Up there with the worst I've ever seen. Both guys were leaning in with their heads."
A rematch was ordered by the IBF in late March, with the winner of the bout becoming the mandatory challenger for the IBF welterweight crown.
Wherever the fight may be and whoever takes the victory, there are sure to be fireworks in Belfast.
