IT’S not North versus South, it’s Belfast versus Limerick, says Lewis Crocker, who intends to represent all sections of the community when he takes on Paddy Donovan at the SSE Arena on March 1.
The battle of the unbeaten welterweights is as big an all-Ireland scrap as there has been in the storied history of Irish boxing and prize - the winner will land a shot at the IBF world title – reflects that.
The stakes are high and Crocker rubbished Donovan’s suggestion that fight fans from nationalist areas of the city would get behind the Limerick man, not the East Belfast native.
“In Paddy’s head he thinks it’s North v South but it’s not, it’s Belfast v Limerick,” said Crocker.
“All parts of the city are going to get behind me and I’m anticipating a great atmosphere.
“I boxed for Ireland and I was proud to represent the Irish flag and I would say that I am from Northern Ireland. I boxed for Holy Trinity in West Belfast and my best mates are Catholic…
“Look at the way Frampton had it (with cross-community support) that’s the way it should be for everyone. People who might have boo-ed me before the (Tyrone) McKenna fight, they were cheering after it.”
Crocker and Donovan and their coaches Billy Nelson (Crocker) and Andy Lee (Donovan) traded knockout predictions throughout a feisty press conference at the Europa Hotel as fuel was poured on the flames of a rivalry that is brimming with hostility.
“It’s the biggest Irish-Irish fight I can remember but that’s something that I’m used to as well from fighting McKenna,” said ‘The Croc’.
“This is new territory for him (Donovan) but it’s my sixth headline fight and we’ll see how he reacts here.”
There is no actual bad blood between the pair of them. It’s what’s on the line that has produced what Andy Lee described as a “visceral” (tribal) atmosphere at the press conference which was packed with vocal Crocker supporters. Victory on March 1 will mean the chance to fight for a world title and the riches that will come along with that.
“There are life-changing opportunities here,” said Crocker.
“Yeah, the stakes are high and what a night it’s going to be.”
Donovan-Crocker was first suggested as a realistic possibility after both won on an Ulster Hall fight night early last year. Crocker says he would have fought his Irish rival anywhere but he admitted he does rate him highly
“Paddy is a great boxer – there’s no denying that,” he said.
“He had a great amateur pedigree and he’s got a great coach in Andy Lee. I don’t really know Paddy but we’re going to get to know each other well on the 1st of March!
“I know nothing about him except that I know how he boxes and he’s a good boxer but I think my experience is going to be key here. When you look at the stats of how many rounds I’ve done and how many rounds he’s done it’s a big difference.
“This is a real jump up and it’s a real jump up on the stage as well.
“A blind man could see that I wasn’t 100 per cent in my last fight (a scrappy points win against Conah Walker in England) and those mistakes aren’t going to be made in this fight.
“But I don’t know if this fight would have been made if my last fight hadn’t been like it was and maybe he took a bit of confidence from it. I’m going to be a different guy in this fight.”