Matchroom revealed today that Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan will be battling in their rematch for the now vacant IBF welterweight title next. The date and venue of the fight are still to be announced.
Crocker vs. Donovan II: IBF Crown
The two fighters will be fighting for the recently vacated IBF title that had been held by Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
Donovan was disqualified in the eighth round after dropping Crocker with a punch after the bell last March in Belfast, Ireland. It was a peach of a right hand from Donovan, 26, that poleaxed ‘The Croc’ Crocker after the bell in the eighth.
If Crocker had gotten up right away, the fight surely would have continued, but he stayed down. Who knows if he could have gotten back up? The way he was getting beaten up by Donovan in the eighth, you can’t blame him for not wanting to get back to his feet to continue fighting.
Boxing Fans React: Matchroom Rematch
Fans are less than enthused. Donovan (14-1, 11 KOs) and Crocker (21-0, 11 KOs) are both viewed as British domestic-level in talent, and not actual world-class fighters.
Some people see them both as having been maneuvered to their current positions without facing significant opposition. They see this fight and their subsequent #1 and #3 IBF rankings as an example of calculated moves by their promoters.
The opposition they have beaten is as lackluster as they come. Based on both of their past wins, they’re more bottom 50-level fighters in terms of ranking rather than #1 and #3. They beat a bunch of scrubs to build their records.
Elite Welterweights: Beyond Crocker, Donovan
The real talent among the contenders at 147 is these fighters:
- Shakhram Giyasov
- Raul Curiel
- Karen Chukhadzhian
- Eimantas Stanionis
Following @JaronEnnis vacating the IBF World Welterweight title and moving up, the rematch just got bigger 👑 @lewiscrocker1 @PaddyDonovan23
Date and venue coming soon 🔥#CrockerDonovan2 | @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/lHDIOFebBy
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) July 10, 2025