- Lewis Crocker wins IBF eliminator after Paddy Donovan is disqualified for a late punch.
- Donovan had earlier dropped Crocker and believed he had secured a knockout victory.
- The Limerick fighter vows to appeal the decision and demands an immediate rematch.
A dramatic night in Belfast ended in chaos as Lewis Crocker was declared the winner of his IBF world title eliminator after opponent Paddy Donovan was disqualified at the end of the eighth round.
Crocker maintained his unbeaten professional record after referee Marcus McDonnell halted the fight, ruling that Donovan had landed a powerful right hand after the bell.
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The sudden decision came moments after Donovan had sent Crocker to the canvas with a huge shot, seemingly turning the tide in his favour. However, the Limerick fighter had already been deducted points in the sixth and eighth rounds for using his elbow and head.
Confusion erupted in the ring as Donovan initially believed he had secured a knockout victory, only to realise he had been disqualified.
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“The crowd is ferocious in here. They say I hit him after the bell, but I thought I hit him on the bell,” Donovan told DAZN. “You can see Lewis was a beaten man, and I won the fight fair and square. The ref took my dreams away tonight.”
Determined to challenge the ruling, Donovan added: “We’re going to appeal the decision, and I want an automatic rematch right on the spot.”
