Carl Frampton has given some last-minute insight into the rematch between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan.
This pair first fought back in March. Donovan was quick to establish himself in the fight and put Crocker under pressure, though kept getting warnings from the referee about the use of his head.
After having a point deducted in the mid-rounds, he was then disqualified, having landed a hook just after the bell sounded for the end of the round.
The pair are now ready to do it all over again at Windsor Park in Belfast, a venue where former two-weight world champion Frampton once headlined.
Speaking to Boxing Life Stories, Frampton gave his on how the second meeting between Crocker and Donovan could play out.
“I think it’ll have to be [a different fight] if Lewis has any chance of winning. It was so one-sided up to the disqualification.
“I have a theory. I seen Paddy box in the Ulster Hall a few fights before he fought Lewis. It was an eight round fight and he got a bit tired around five or six and I think he only got it at short notice and maybe wasn’t as fit as he could have been and I think that Crocker and Billy Nelson saw it and thought they’d walk forward and keep their hands high and get him in the second half, but that wasn’t the case.
“I know Lewis is a lot better than that last performance, where I think he would admit himself he was really under par but it’s going to be a tough ask ’cause it was so one-sided and I think Paddy will go into this fight with a lot of confidence.”
Finally, he suggested some ways in which Crocker could improve.
“His output needs to be higher. He needs to move his head more, a lot more, and put it on Paddy. He needs to gamble, in a sense, but that could suit Paddy, who is a very technically astute boxer, counterpunches well and punches hard as well.”
