LEWIS CROCKER will be chasing a childhood dream when he steps into the ring against Paddy Donovan on Saturday night.
The two undefeated Irish welterweights go toe-to-toe in Belfast in an IBF world title eliminator.
The prospect of becoming a world champion is one that Crocker has been pursuing long before he became a professional boxer in 2017.
Indeed, he traces it back to when he was but a young lad, watching his older sister Alanna make history opposite Katie Taylor in Halloween 2001.
He explained: “The world title is the dream, so to be within touching distance, this fight is everything to me.
“It is there for both of us. I’m sure he has had a dream for a world title since he was a kid as well.
“As a kid – 5 or 6 years of age – I wanted to be a world champion since I started boxing. As long as I can remember, it has always been a dream.
“My sister Alanna boxed.
“She and Katie Taylor was the first officially sanctioned female fight in Ireland.
“That is how I got into boxing and I haven’t looked back since.”
‘The Croc’ was four when Alanna Nihell fought Katie Taylor in Ireland’s first-ever official sanctioned female fight.
Within ten years, the Belfast-native was winning a bronze medal for Ireland at the European Schoolboys Championships.
The seven-time All-Ireland junior champion turned pro in 2017 and, to-date, has racked up an undefeated 20-0 record, including 11 knock-outs.
His last seven have been under the tutelage of trainer Billy Nelson, with whom he linked up on recommendation from manager Jamie Conlan.
Crocker told SunSport: “I was talking to Jamie and Jamie mentioned about it. At this stage, I had had fights fall through constantly and stuff.
“By the time I fought with Billy, I hadn’t fought for a year and a half so I got over to Scotland and Billy welcomed me with open arms.
“He has got me to where he is right now, so he did. I’m very grateful for Billy in my life.
“We are getting better and better each fight. We gel perfectly so we do, so there are more big nights to come for us both.”
HOME COMFORTS
The 28-year-old will be the home fighter at the SSE Arena, with Limerick-native Paddy Donovan stepping into enemy territory.
Crocker has fought there four times before – most recently against Tyrone McKenna in December 2023 – and will be the more experienced fighter on the night.
And it is this experience that he believes will give him the edge.
He said: “It is going to be great. I was away fighter last time in my last bout and headlined the fight before that in Belfast.
“The atmosphere for that was sensational in the Ulster Hall so I am expecting more big noise on Saturday.
“It just gives you that bit more energy. You feel the crowd in everything.
“I know the crowd will be there with me so I am expecting fireworks.
“The best are fighting the best and me and Paddy should be fighting.
“It is the right time as well, with the IBF on the line. Everyone wants it. Everyone in the city wants it. I want it so it was a no brainer.
“I have ticked off a lot of boxes that I don’t think he has experienced yet and I think that will play a factor.
“I expect a very entertaining fight, no doubt. Both of us are going to bring it so it is going to be class to watch.
“I am super confident about getting the victory and I believe I can get him out of there.”
