The heat is rising in Belfast. Tonight, Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan stood nose-to-nose inside the Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park — the same spot where they’ll throw leather this Saturday for the vacant IBF welterweight title.
For Crocker, this is personal ground. He grew up just yards from the venue, and now he’s headlining the biggest night of his career in front of a home crowd. Donovan, from Limerick, turned up brash and smiling, using the first official face-off of Fight Week to needle the Belfast man.
Donovan plays the joker, Crocker stays cool
Donovan walked in with his entourage, tossing out barbs before quipping, “He’s done,” as he left. He even went so far as to tickle Crocker’s ribs, promising to “put it to bed once and for all” on Saturday night.
Crocker wasn’t rattled. Instead, he fired back with a dig at Donovan’s new plaited hairstyle and calmly stated:
“My camp has been good,” Crocker said, looking relaxed and measured.
No theatrics, no nerves — just focus. For a man chasing his first world title, that composure says plenty.
What’s next in Belfast Fight Week
Fight Week rolls on with public workouts on Wednesday from 4 pm local time, giving fans a close look at the undercard talent.
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Molly McCann, the UFC veteran making her pro boxing debut against Kate Rodomska, will showcase her new skillset.
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Pat Brown, the unbeaten cruiserweight prospect, gets his spotlight.
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Tyrone McKenna and Dylan Moran will trade more words before their 10-round welterweight clash.
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Rising names Ishamel Davis and Caoimhín Agyarko are also set to warm up in front of the Belfast crowd.
My Take
This is shaping up to be Belfast’s biggest fight night in years. Crocker carries the local pride, Donovan thrives on the villain role, and the needle between them is real. If the face-off was just the warm-up, Windsor Park could be boiling come Saturday night.
Belfast Fight Night Running Order (Top Down)
Saturday, September 13 – ICC Belfast
Broadcast: DAZN | Main Card: 7 PM | Prelims: 4:30 PM
Main Event
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Lewis Crocker (146.6) vs Paddy Donovan (145.7) – IBF World Welterweight Title, 12 rds
Co-Main
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Ishmael Davis (153.5) vs Caoimhin Agyarko (153.3) – WBA Continental Super Welterweight Title, 12 rds
Main Card Bouts
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Tyrone McKenna (149.5) vs Dylan Moran (149.8) – Welterweight, 10 rds
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Patrick Brown (204.8) vs Austin Nnmadi (197.6) – Cruiserweight, 8 rds
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Molly McCann (121.3) vs Kate Rodomska (118) – Super bantamweight, 6 rds
Prelims
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Ruadhan Farrell (122) vs Matthew Boreland (121.7) – Irish Super Bantamweight Title, 10 rds
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Donagh Keary (125.3) vs Caine Singh (125.3) – Super bantamweight, 4 rds
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Aaron Bowen (163.2) vs Carlos Miguel Ronner (162.2) – Middleweight, 8 rds
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Kyle Smith (157) vs Connor Meanwell (155.5) – Super middleweight, 4 rds
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Jim Donovan (159.5) vs Lucas Barabasz (163) – Middleweight, 4 rds
‘Biggest Irish fight ever’?? Come on man… I seen tougher fights behind my local pub 😤 They hypin’ this too much when it was just a DQ last time. Not real boxing.
Everyone says it’s bad blood but I think it’s just fake drama to sell tickets 📺🥱 This ain’t Ali vs Frazier or nothin’. Let them fight, crown the winner, move on.
‘Zactly! All these promos makin’ it sound bigger than it is. Two Irish dudes scrappin’ over a belt… big deal? Just throw punches already.
IBF only gave this rematch cause they felt bad for Donovan’s team crying after the fight. Rules is rules—he broke ‘em and paid the price. Ain’t nobody owed a second chance like that 🤷
Donovan talks all calm like he ain’t worried but that just shows he thinks he already won and that’s dangerous thinking. He better take this serious or same thing gonna happen again.
I don’t care what people say, Crocker gonna win again cause he’s from Belfast and fighting at home 🥊 That crowd gonna scare Donovan and make him mess up like before.
Crocker didn’t even win fair the first time, that’s facts. How you get handed a belt when the other guy gets DQ’d for dumb stuff? That ain’t a real win to me. Donovan was clearly better.
You right! Crocker got lucky with that DQ nonsense. If Donovan just kept his cool, we wouldn’t even be talkin’ about a rematch cause he’d already be champ 💯