Crocker-donovan Rematch Confirmed For Windsor Park

The rematch betwixt Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan, which has been upgraded to a world title conflict for nan vacant IBF welterweight belt, is to return spot astatine Belfast's Windsor Park stadium connected Saturday, 13 September.

Promoters Matchroom Boxing confirmed connected Thursday that nan venue, which hosts nan Northern Ireland world shot team's location matches, would shape nan first-ever world title conflict betwixt 2 boxers from nan land of Ireland.

The welterweight title was antecedently held by American Jaron 'Boots' Ennis.

The first gathering betwixt nan brace connected 1 March was a last eliminator for nan IBF title and ended in arguable fashion pinch Crocker taking nan triumph by disqualification successful beforehand of a 8,500 crowd astatine nan SSE Arena successful his autochthonal Belfast.

Limerick combatant Donovan, who had doubly antecedently been deducted points, was thrown retired astatine nan extremity of nan eighth information for punching aft nan bell.

An entreaty from Donovan's squad resulted successful nan IBF granting a rematch which would again service arsenic a last eliminator for nan world title but pinch champion Ennis moving up to nan light-middleweight, nan loop became vacant.

Windsor Park past hosted a boxing arena successful August 2018 erstwhile two-weight world champion Carl Frampton defeated Luke Jackson of Australia.

Speaking to BBC Sport NI, Crocker said: "Unbelievable. As a kid each I wanted to do was to conflict for a world title. To conflict astatine Windsor Park is simply a dream.

"I can't ideate what it's going to beryllium for illustration to conflict for a world title there. The first all-Irish world title fight. It's history.

"The contention from nan past conflict makes it moreover bigger. It's going to beryllium exceptional. The rematch should hap 100%. I wanted nan rematch to put things right."

Crocker's triumph made it 21 wins from 21 fights for nan Belfast boxer but nan 28-year-old was not happy pinch his level of performance.

"I underperformed massively successful nan first conflict truthful to spell successful arsenic an underdog and beryllium everyone wrong, and triumph a world title astatine Windsor Park - I'll return that each time long.

"I'd beryllium a happy man until I dice if I triumph a world title, particularly astatine Windsor Park.

"The ambiance is going to beryllium electric. Obviously he [Donovan] will person his support arsenic good but my friends and family and nan group of Belfast will backmost me."