Crocker Rejects Donovan's 'dive' Claims

Lewis Crocker dismissed Paddy Donovan assertion that he "took a dive" successful their first conflict erstwhile they met connected Monday to motorboat their IBF World welterweight rematch connected 13 September astatine Belfast's Windsor Park.

Belfast's Crocker won nan first conflict betwixt nan brace successful March by measurement of disqualification pinch Donovan thrown retired astatine nan eighth information for punching aft nan doorbell of what was a world title eliminator.

Prior to nan ending, nan Limerick man had been deducted points successful nan sixth and 8 rounds for fouls but besides scored a morganatic knockdown conscionable anterior to nan end.

The precocious changeable that forced referee Marcus McDonnell to rumor nan eventual reward dropped Crocker who was awarded nan triumph and a changeable astatine past champion Jaron 'Boots' Ennis.

However, pursuing an entreaty by Donovan's team, nan IBF granted a rematch and pinch Ennis opting to vacate nan title to move up to nan light-middleweight division, nan vacant loop will beryllium connected nan statement erstwhile Crocker and Donovan meet successful nan first all-Irish world title conflict successful history astatine nan location of Northern Ireland football.

The fighters met astatine Windsor Park connected Monday for a media telephone to motorboat their 2nd conflict earlier moving to a property convention successful nan metropolis wherever Donovan accused his rival of making nan astir of nan precocious punch successful March.

"It couldn't person panned retired immoderate amended for maine aft nan contention aft nan first fight," said nan 26-year-old who suffered his first profession blemish owed to nan disqualification.

"The IBF ruled successful our favour to get this world title complete nan statement and I'm happy to beryllium backmost successful Belfast. I can't hold to get successful location connected 13 September and put connected a show.

"You tin inquire Lewis if he took a dive aliases I knocked him retired aft nan bell. I deliberation he took a dive to get maine disqualified. I'd been winning each information and was successful a comfortable position, truthful nan only measurement for Lewis to get nan triumph was by taking a dive.

"After nan past fight, my assurance is only increasing and I tin get nan knockout this time."

Crocker insisted a rematch is warranted and he was keen to make it happen, but nonetheless, is adamant nan correct telephone was made astatine nan extremity of their first fight.

The 28-year-old put his capacity successful March down to "an disconnected night" but acknowledges he will spell into nan rematch arsenic an outsider aft opinions were divided earlier their first fight.

He accepts he will request a overmuch amended capacity to time off nary room for statement this clip astir but changeable down Donovan's jibes by saying his rival simply paid nan value for breaking nan rules.

"I agreed pinch nan decision, but besides agreed location should beryllium a rematch," he said.

"He didn't sound maine out. My oculus was unopen and I was successful problem astatine that stage. Paddy made nan correction and paid for it."

Crocker added he will beryllium a "massive underdog" this clip around.

"Nobody wanted nan conflict to extremity for illustration that, including myself, and I cognize I'm a batch amended combatant than what I showed. The adjacent day, I rang Jamie (Conlan, manager) and told him to get nan rematch sorted.

"Everything has worked out. We were fighting successful an eliminator originally, but now it's for nan title. It's everything I've dreamed of since I was a kid and each I've ever wanted.

"I person to beryllium better. Paddy is simply a awesome combatant and showed that successful nan past fight. I'm a monolithic underdog successful this conflict - nobody's expecting maine to win. To propulsion disconnected nan win, it would beryllium nan worldly of dreams."