Lewis Crocker could meet at Windsor Park on 13 September Matchroom Boxing chief executive Frank Smith says he is "very confident" the rematch between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan will be for the vacant IBF welterweight title, adding "we are moving in the right direction" for the fight to take place at Windsor Park. Saturday, 13 September has been floated as a potential date for what would be the first all-Irish world title fight. The first meeting between the pair took place on 1 March, drawing a sell-out crowd of 8,500 at Belfast's SSE Arena for what was touted as a final eliminator for the title, held by Jaron 'Boots' Ennis. "Any day that should be finalised," Smith told BBC Sport NI when asked about the rematch having world title status. "That will obviously add a big storyline to the fight. The first fight ended in controversy and this is their chance to prove who deserves to get that win and become world champion. "Hopefully in the coming days we'll have an update on that and confirmation from the IBF that it'll be for a full world title." In the first fight, Crockerwon via disqualificationat the end of the eighth round when, having twice previously been deducted points for fouls, Limerick's Donovan was thrown out for punching after the bell. An appeal from Donovan's team resulted in the IBF granting a rematch which again would be a final eliminator. However, in a twist last week, champion Ennis confirmed he is to move up to the light-middleweight division. Windsor Park staged Carl Frampton's win over Luke Jackson in August 2018 Smith was in Belfast on Wednesday to meet with officials from the Irish Football Association (IFA) to explore the possibility of the rematch taking place at Windsor Park, saying discussions have been "positive". It is understood the IFA are keen on the idea, as is Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, but Smith admitted that financial support from from the NI Executive would "help make a decision easier" in terms of bringing the rematch to the home of the Northern Ireland football team. It would not be a first as in September 2014, the NI Executive provided support for Carl Frampton's world title win over Kiko Martinez at Titanic Slipways. "Stadium fights are very difficult to make economic sense," Smith admitted. "For us it's about putting on the best possible show and this fight deserves that. So, does it make economical sense? Probably not. Not often as a business do we make decisions that don't make economic sense and that's why everyone's support is needed. "Quite honestly, it would be easy to take the event back to the arena and we know we can sell out that instantly, but we want to do things differently and bring huge events. "The government is known to support events. You've got the golf (Open Championship) coming up in a few weeks from now, heavily supported by the government, so we're hopeful we can get support in some way, and from the stadium as well to get this over the line."
Matchroom hopeful Windsor Park can stage Crocker-Donovan II title fight
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"Crocker and Donovan II Rematch Planned for Windsor Park with IBF Title on the Line"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Matchroom Boxing's chief executive, Frank Smith, has expressed confidence that the anticipated rematch between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan will take place at Windsor Park on September 13, 2023, and will be for the vacant IBF welterweight title. This matchup is set to be significant as it could mark the first all-Irish world title fight, adding to the excitement surrounding the event. The initial encounter between Crocker and Donovan occurred on March 1, 2023, at the SSE Arena in Belfast, where a crowd of 8,500 witnessed a controversial ending. Crocker won by disqualification after Donovan, who had already received two point deductions for fouls, was disqualified for hitting after the bell. Following this controversy, Donovan's team successfully appealed to the IBF for a rematch, which is now positioned as a final eliminator for the welterweight title, especially after champion Jaron 'Boots' Ennis announced his move to the light-middleweight division.
In preparation for the potential event, Smith has been in discussions with officials from the Irish Football Association (IFA) and has reported positive feedback regarding the idea of hosting the fight at Windsor Park. The IFA and Northern Ireland's Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons, are reportedly supportive of the event, although Smith noted that financial backing from the Northern Ireland Executive would significantly ease the process of securing the venue. He acknowledged the economic challenges of staging fights in large stadiums, emphasizing that while the SSE Arena is a more economically viable option, the goal is to create a memorable and significant event. Smith highlighted the importance of community support and government assistance, referencing past instances of government backing for significant sporting events in Northern Ireland, such as Carl Frampton's title fight in 2014. The commitment to host the rematch at Windsor Park indicates a desire to elevate the event and provide a unique experience for fans, while also navigating the financial complexities involved in such large-scale promotions.
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