PADDY Donovan versus Lewis Crocker - the most eagerly-anticipated fight in Irish boxing – could be confirmed next week but Andy Lee, Donovan’s trainer, believes the all-Ireland welterweight match-up has a “50-50″ chance of taking place this year.
Both camps are still waiting for news of date and venue (arenas north and south of the border have been mentioned) but whenever and wherever it is, Donovan’s coach Lee is confident that his man has “the beatings” of his unbeaten Belfast rival.
Limerick-based Lee says there is no rush in matching the two Irish prospects together but he will embrace whatever timetable promoters Matchroom come up with.
“We’re still waiting to hear what Matchroom want to do,” said Lee, the former WBO middleweight champion.
“Paddy’s well up for the fight anyway. We’re just waiting to hear if Matchroom want to make the fight yet. We’ll see what happens but we’re well up for it.”
Donovan (14-0) extended his current stoppage streak to five in-a-row when he stopped Lewis Ritson in Leeds back in May. Previous to that victory, the hard-hitting Treaty county native had stopped Williams Andres Herrera, Danny Ball, Sam O’Maison and Luis Da Silva (all of whom came with winning records) inside the distance.
Meanwhile, Crocker grabbed the attention of Irish fight fans when he dominated Belfast rival Tyrone McKenna in December last year. He reached 20-0 as a professional when he took a unanimous decision win against Conah Walker in June despite being deducted a point in the ninth round.
Andy Lee says his fighter is staying in shape as he waits on confirmation of his next move.
“Paddy is training consistently, he’s staying fit and he’s had good preparation because his last opponent (Ritson) was quite similar to Lewis Crocker – not a 100 per cent, but not too far away from Crocker in that he was orthodox, come-forward and aggressive,” he said.
“Paddy is well up for the fight and so am I, it’s just a matter of: Is it the fight that happens next or will it be a fight or two later?
“I think one more fight wouldn’t hurt for Paddy but if it was to happen next then we’ll go with that. I think Lewis is a very good fighter – he’s very strong and tough – but Paddy has a style that is wrong for him; Paddy can box-and-move and he can punch as well.
“I wouldn’t say anything negative about Lewis because I think he’s a very good fighter and a nice lad but Paddy just has the beatings of him and that’s it.”
Crocker trains in Scotland with Billy Nelson and will go into the Donovan fight fully confident of winning. After all, he travelled to Conah Walker’s backyard and beat him in a barn-burner of a fight that reached its crescendo in the last three action-packed rounds.
“Lewis is doing really well and he’s got a very attractive style,” Lee added.
“He comes to fight but for me the Walker fight was his first real test. He did pass it, it was a close fight between him and Walker but he won it. Up to that point he hadn’t really fought at a high level and anybody he had fought was coming up from lighter weights so he was well managed in that sense.
“He’s a very good fighter, there’s no doubt about it and for me it’s a shame that they might both have to fight each other at this stage of their careers because both of them are good enough to go on and do bigger things. Losing wouldn’t be the end for either of them but it would definitely be a setback for their career.
“I think it’s 50-50 at the moment. We’re waiting to hear back from Matchroom and by next week we might have a decision on what’s going to happen so we’ll see, we’ll see what happens.”
BRIAN Magee will come out swinging at Ballycastle Golf Club on Thursday, September 26 in the James Martin Charity Golf Scramble to raise funds for Corrymeela.
The former super-middleweight world champion will join actor Martin and other well known figures including snooker star Joe Swail on the tee to raise £12,000 for the charity.
“The golf day at Ballycastle is for a very deserving cause, to maintain the excellent special facility at Corrymeela,” said Magee.
“The peaceful place at Corrymeela is Northern Ireland’s oldest peace and reconciliation facility.”
Corrymeela annually supports thousands of people to explore ways to live well together - organising programmes to establish a shared society through tolerance in schools, families and communities. For further information on the golf event - bookings and sponsorship contact catherineohara@corymeela.org or call 07515063303.
ANGELO Leo captured the IBF featherweight world title with a one-punch knockout in the 10th round against Venado Lopez in New Mexico on Saturday.
Leo boxed intelligently as Venado pushed forward confidently with his hands down. Undeterred, Leo moved his feet to set up short combinations.
Despite Venado (30-3, 17 KOs) connecting occasionally, Leo (25-2, 12 KOs) returned fire often with quick combinations and hard counters in the middle rounds when Venado was off balance.
The Mexican powerhouse seemed unfazed by Leo’s punches, but a perfect left hook put Venado flat on his back in the tenth, ending the fight at 1:16.
Leo, the former WBO junior featherweight world champion, has now earned world titles in two weight classes.
Leo said: “This means the world to me, fighting back in my hometown. I’ve been yearning for this moment. Like I said, what better way to do it than with a world title shot and with a knockout?
“That left hook, we’ve been practicing in camp for four, five months. Not in the gym, but in my room in front of the mirror. I just kept throwing that left hook. And it paid off in the 10th round.
“I want to fight all the champions, whether it be Rafael Espinoza for a unification bout. Naoya Inoue, whoever it may be.”