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Lewis Crocker faces Paddy Donovan in an IBF welterweight title last eliminator in Belfast on Saturday Picture Credit score: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing An Irish derby headlines a Matchroom-promoted card on the SSE Enviornment in Belfast this Saturday, as Belfast’s Lewis Crocker takes on Limerick’s Paddy Donovan in a last eliminaor for Jaron Ennis’ IBF welterweight world title.
DAZN televise Crocker vs Donovan stay worldwide.
Crocker (20-0, 11 KOs) has impressed since becoming a member of the Matchroom secure in 2023, and he started with a dominant factors win over Tyrone McKenna.
2024 noticed ‘The Croc’ out twice, stopping Jose Felix in 5 rounds in January, and he was then pushed laborious by Conah Walker in June, finally coming by in an in depth factors win.
Donovan (14-0, 11 KOs) is on a run of 5 straight early wins and was final out in Could final 12 months the place he scored a ninth spherical stoppage win over the light Lewis Ritson in Leeds.
Prediction: This one could possibly be an in depth, cagey affair, with Crocker and Donovan each unbeaten, and hungry to progress. Each additionally hit laborious, and I tentatively lean in the direction of Crocker getting his hand raised by an in depth margin on the playing cards.
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Richards meets McCrory
Craig Richards seems on the undercard, and the sunshine heavyweight will get a ten spherical project towards Padraig McCrory, who strikes again as much as 175 kilos after a spell at tremendous middleweight.
Richards (18-4-1, 11 KOs) has solely misplaced in good firm in his previous few contests, together with a spirited factors defeat in Could 2021 to now-undisputed champion, Dmitry Bivol in Manchester, and he additionally pushed Joshua Buatsi all the best way a 12 months later, shedding on two scorecards by simply two factors.
McCrory was crushed by Berlanga final March Picture Credit score: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom
The 34-year-old was defeated in his most up-to-date contest, a pulsating factors reverse to Willy Hutchinson out in Riyadh.
McCrory (19-1, 9 KOs) has solely misplaced as soon as, and that was a sixth spherical knockout reverse to Edgar Berlanga final February, however he did return to successful methods in November 2024, extensively outscoring Leonard Carrillo in Belfast.
Prediction: Richards is an underrated boxer, and massive for the burden, and I favour him to get the job executed within the later rounds on this one.
McCarthy battles Ward
A crossroads conflict at cruiserweight sees former European champion Tommy McCarthy face off with Steven Ward over a scheduled ten.Â
McCarthy (21-6, 10 KOs) has misplaced 4 of his final seven bouts, the latest a fourth spherical defeat to Cheavon Clarke final January, and Ward (14-3, 4 KOs) ended an over two-year lay-off to select up a win, earlier than being halted in 5 by Juergen Uldedaj in July.Â
Prediction: McCarthy can win a shootout early on.
McCarthy suffered a fourth spherical defeat to Clarke final January Picture Credit score: Mark Robinson Matchroom BoxingWalker faces Woodstock
Lisburn featherweight Kurt Walker sees motion, and he’s at ten spherical degree for the second straight struggle, this time towards Leon Woodstock.
Walker (11-0, 2 KOs) pressured the powerful James Beech Jr to retire after seven rounds in his final outing, whereas Leicester’s Woodstock (16-3, 7 KOs) has received 4 low-key contests since defeats to Zelfa Barrett and Anthony Cacace in 2019 and 2021 respectively.
Prediction: I favour the brisker Walker to come back by on factors.
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Remaining Undercard
At light-weight, Irish hope Shauna Browne ought to stay undefeated with a factors victory over Turkey’s Elif Nur Turhan (9-0, 5 KOs).
The only eight rounder is at tremendous bantamweight, the place Ruadhan Farrell (6-1-1, 2 KOs) can rating a factors win towards Gerard Hughes (5-0-1) of their rematch, with the pair preventing to a six spherical attract December 2023.
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Over six rounds, Aaron Bowen (4-0, 3 KOs) can win early in his middleweight conflict with Juan Cruz Cacheiro (7-3, 3 KOs).
Within the sole 4 rounder, Jack O’Neill (3-0, 1 KO) can take a factors win over Mohammed Wako (1-2).
