Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Crocker: Disqualification and Brawl Mar IBF World Welterweight Title Eliminator

Image credits: Dave Thompson/Matchroom

The highly anticipated all-Irish clash between Paddy Donovan and Lewis Crocker ended in controversy as Donovan was disqualified for landing a punch after the bell had sounded, awarding the fight to Crocker and moving his record to 21-0. The IBF world welterweight title eliminator was dominated by Donovan from the start, with the Limerick man using his jab effectively and landing several solid punches throughout the fight. However, the turning point came at the end of the eighth round when Donovan hit Crocker after the bell, resulting in his disqualification.

The sold-out SSE Arena in Belfast, packed with 8,000 spectators, erupted into chaos as the referee signalled Donovan's disqualification, with a huge brawl breaking out among numerous spectators. Donovan's team is planning to appeal the decision to the IBF, while promoter Eddie Hearn hinted at a possible rematch. Despite the controversy, Crocker is now the mandatory challenger for the IBF world welterweight title, currently held by American Jaron 'Boots' Ennis. The fight was part of a packed card at the SSE Arena, which also saw Padraig McCrory lose to Craig Richards in a featherweight bout, and Kurt Walker improve his record to 12-0 with a majority decision victory over Lyon Woodstock.

In other fights on the card, Steven Ward triumphed over his friend Tommy McCarthy in an all-Belfast cruiserweight clash, with McCarthy announcing his retirement from boxing to focus on his comedy career. Ruadhan Farrell finally secured a win over Gerard Hughes, 15 months after their controversial draw, while Belfast super-bantamweight Jack O'Neill moved to 4-0 with a decision win despite suffering a severe head cut. However, Tipperary lightweight Shauna Browne suffered a crushing first-round knockout loss to Turkey's Elif Nur Turhan, with the world title eliminator ending after just 47 seconds. The results of the fights are as follows:

• Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Crocker: Crocker wins by disqualification
• Padraig McCrory vs Craig Richards: Richards wins by decision
• Kurt Walker vs Lyon Woodstock: Walker wins by majority decision
• Steven Ward vs Tommy McCarthy: Ward wins by knockout
• Ruadhan Farrell vs Gerard Hughes: Farrell wins by decision
• Jack O'Neill vs Mohammed Wako: O'Neill wins by decision
• Shauna Browne vs Elif Nur Turhan: Turhan wins by knockout

The sport of boxing is known for its unpredictability, and the events that unfolded at the SSE Arena were a testament to this. The disqualification of Donovan and the subsequent brawl among spectators added to the drama of the evening, which was already filled with exciting fights and unexpected outcomes. As the boxing world continues to react to the events of the night, one thing is certain - the IBF world welterweight title eliminator will be remembered for a long time to come.

In the aftermath of the fight, Donovan's team is planning to appeal the decision, citing that the punch thrown after the bell was not intentional. However, the IBF rules are clear, and the disqualification stands. The controversy surrounding the fight has sparked a heated debate among boxing fans, with some arguing that the disqualification was justified, while others believe that it was an unfair decision. As the dust settles, one thing is certain - the world of boxing will be eagerly awaiting the next move of Paddy Donovan and Lewis Crocker.