Lewis Crocker vs Paddy Donovan Preview September 13th, 2025
The vacant IBF Welterweight Title is on the line this Saturday, September 13th when unbeaten Lewis Crocker of Belfast, Northern Ireland meets Paddy Donovan of Ennis, Republic of Ireland in a rematch in Belfast. The two first met in March with Donovan being controversially disqualified after the eighth round for hitting and dropping Crocker after the bell. Donovan was also deducted a point in the sixth and eighth rounds for head butting but was comfortably ahead on all three scorecards when the fight was stopped. The 12-round bout can be seen live in most nations on DAZN.
Crocker vs Donovan Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Lewis Crocker +525
- Paddy Donovan -850
My Pick
The 28-year-old Crocker climbs through the ropes with a perfect mark of 21-0 with 11 Ko’s and has boxed 110 rounds since making his pro debut in 2017. Before that he enjoyed a fine amateur career which saw him compete in the 2015 Irish Under-18 Championships and take a silver medal in the competition in 2014. He won the 2014 Irish Youth 2 Championships and reached the semifinals of the Irish Open Youth competition the same year.
Crocker also won the 2013 Irish Youth 1 Championship, reached the quarterfinals of the 2012 EUBC European Junior Championships and competed in several other national tournaments, reportedly winning 90 of his 97 amateur bouts. Since turning pro, Crocker captured the vacant WBO European Welterweight Title in August, 2020 with a seventh-round TKO over Louis Greene. He defended it with a 10-round unanimous decision over Dennis Ibay after dropping him in the third round and also by stopping Artem Haroyan in the seventh stanza.
Crocker then added the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight Belt in January, 2024 by stopping Jose Felix in the fifth round. Crocker also has wins over the likes of Conah Walker, Tyrone McKenna, Joel Julio and John Thain. He possesses decent power in his fists with a current knockout ratio of 52.4 per cent and has stopped four of his past eight opponents. Crocker stands 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 70.5-inch reach.
As for Donovan, he’s a 26-year-old southpaw who climbs into the ring with a mark of 14-1 with 11 Ko’s. He’s boxed 71 rounds since turning pro in 2019 and has quite a bit of power in his arsenal as 78.6 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage including his last five. Donovan had an extensive amateur career and fought at the 2016 World Youth Championships and won several national championships in the Republic of Ireland. His lone pro defeat was the disqualification to Crocker in his last bout.
Donovan, who resides in Limerick, has wins over Jose Luis Castillo, Danny Ball, Tom Hill and Lewis Ritson and this will be his first title fight of any kind as a pro. He measures 5-feet-9-inches tall, the same as Crocker, but has an unlisted reach. He was dominating Crocker in the first fight but can only blame himself for the disqualification for his tactics.
Prediction…
Both boxers have fought limited opposition as pros but they’ve only lost once between them and that was in their controversial first fight. Donovan should have a lot of confidence due to his performance in the first meeting while Crocker should be motivated to prove that was just an off night for him. I have a feeling this fight will basically go the same way as the first clash with Donovan ending the night as the new champion as long as he doesn’t get disqualified of course.
Donovan’s boxing skills and power give him the edge.
Play: Donovan -850 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Lewis Crocker betting • Paddy Donovan betting