Mass brawl erupts at boxing match after | Boxing News

Paddy Donovan was disqualified during his combat with Lewis Crocker, resulting in a mass brawl at the SSE Arena in Belfast. Eight thousand spectators have been current for the all-Irish conflict, and Crocker was declared the winner after Donovan was disqualified for touchdown a punch after the bell had rung.

Donovan believed he had defeated Crocker after knocking him down for the second time at the top of the eighth spherical, however the referee disqualified him for his late hit. The Limerick-born Donovan broke down in tears as Crocker’s undefeated report continued, whereas within the stands, a number of spectators clashed when the referee indicated Donovan’s disqualification.

Despite combating in his opponent’s home turf, Donovan was the more lively of the 2 within the opening spherical, utilizing his jab earlier than Crocker retaliated. A proper hand to Crocker’s head precipitated a cut above the Belfast man’s eye within the third spherical.

In the fourth spherical, Donovan was warned about main with the pinnacle and given a last warning, however he inflicted injury underneath Crocker’s different eye with one other highly effective punch. He was then deducted a level for main with the pinnacle within the sixth.

Another level was deducted from Donovan within the eighth earlier than tempers flared. Crocker was clearly struggling however remained standing till the bell rang, at which level Donovan hit him late.

Eddie Hearn has hinted at a doable rematch as Donovan’s camp gears up to file an appeal with the IBF, following his controversial bout. Now, Crocker has secured his place because the obligatory challenger for the IBF world welterweight title, at the moment held by the American Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.

After the combat, Donovan expressed his frustration to DAZN: “The crowd is ferocious in here. They say I hit him after the bell, but I thought I hit him on the bell,” and asserted, “You can see Lewis was a beaten man and I won the fight fair and square. The ref took my dreams away tonight. We’re going to appeal the decision and I want an automatic rematch right on the spot.”

Meanwhile, on the undercard, Padraig McCrory suffered an eighth-round defeat to Craig Richards as a consequence of a highly effective physique shot, whereas Kurt Walker maintained his unbeaten streak, now 12-0, after securing a majority resolution victory over Leon Woodstock. In one other bout, Steven Ward emerged victorious within the all-Belfast encounter, stopping Tommy McCarthy within the sixth spherical.

This article initially appeared on Mirror