Paddy Donovan’s fight with Lewis Crocker had an extremely controversial ending.
The two welterweights went head-to-head in front of a packed crowd at the SSE Arena in Belfast, with a potential future world title shot against Jaron Ennis up for grabs for the winner.
It was viewed as a 50-50 fight heading in, but Donovan dominated the majority of the action. He did have two points deducted during the contest for the use of the head though, which seemingly was a huge factor in how the fight ended.
At the end of the eighth round, Donovan dropped Crocker for the second time with a right hook, but it came after the bell, leading to referee Marcus McDonnell disqualifying the Limerick man and handing Crocker the win.
It was a result that caused a lot of controversy, and this is how some of the big names in the boxing world reacted…
Paddy Donovan
“The ref took my dreams AWAY tonight”
🎙 @PaddyDonovan23#CrockerDonovanpic.twitter.com/4b1jPllDEC
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 1, 2025
Lewis Crocker
"That's NOT the way I want to win a fight!"
🗣 @lewiscrocker1#CrockerDonovanpic.twitter.com/0sa7V47uIL
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 1, 2025
Tony Bellew
Tony Bellew speaks on the #CrockerDonovan ending 👀
Watch live: https://t.co/cPY9irE9bSpic.twitter.com/5C49gO1vWm
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) March 1, 2025
Mark Tibbs
Think Crocker led with his face all night,so two points deduction very very tight shot that was in motion split second after the bell,I feel very sorry for Donavan,REMATCH!
— MarkTibbsBoxing (@MarkTibbsBoxing) March 1, 2025
Ben Shalom
Referee very harsh on Donovan throughout. He was a class above.
— Ben Shalom (@benjshalom) March 1, 2025
Dave Coldwell
I thought @PaddyDonovan23 boxed brilliant tonight.
Completely one sided fight.
Both fighters posture led to bumps of the head, but Donovan can’t complain too about the points taken off although both should have been warned about leaning with the head.
But to disqualify on that…— Dave Coldwell (@davidcoldwell) March 1, 2025
Dillian Whyte
What a Crocker shit
— Dillian Whyte (@DillianWhyte) March 1, 2025
Liam Smith
Tough one to take that for Donovan. Was on the verge of winning. Felt for him.
— Liam Smith (@LiamBeefySmith) March 1, 2025
Michael Conlan
Wow, fair play both @lewiscrocker1 & @PaddyDonovan23 ! Paddy boxed a great fight, need to see the rematch after that ending. Lewis won’t wanna win like that and is better than he showed. Paddy looked big and strong in there! #CrockerDonovan
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) March 1, 2025
Paul Smith
Donovan threw that away there.
— Paul Smith (@PaulSmithJnr) March 1, 2025
Michael McKinson
What a performance by paddy Donovan , forget that result, he beat Crocker , mentally and physically done him there
— michael mckinson (@mikeytheproblem) March 1, 2025
Brad Rea
If Donovan didn’t throw that shot the fight would have been stopped 2 seconds later in the corner
— Bradley “The Sting” Rea 🐝 (@bradrea_) March 1, 2025
