Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman:

“Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the Europa Hotel here in Belfast. It’s a fantastic turnout today. There’s great noise ahead of a massive fight. March 1st, live on DAZN around the world. Before we speak to the fighters, we just want to thank our partners, and particularly our latest partner That Prize Guy – welcome to the team.

"And I guess to get the party started today because you’re all, as always, nice and noisy in Belfast. I want to introduce the two main pugilists on display on March 1st. This is a massive all-Irish fight. It’s one of the biggest fights we’ve seen for some time, and a brilliant 50-50 match-up. Now more importantly on a world level, this is a match-up that is going to see one of these two moves forward and fight for the IBF Championship of the World. They will become the mandatory challenger Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.

"They will put themselves in line for huge pay days, huge opportunities against the biggest names in the sport. We love great fights and it takes two to tango. Firstly, to my left, a young man that has skills to burn. Under the tutelage of the great Andy Lee. This man has looked sensational. Hailing from Limerick – the undefeated Paddy Donovan!

"And to my right, the man that has dynamite in his hands, the man that had a city behind him. Under the tutelage of the great Billy Nelson, a man that you believe is your next superstar – ladies and gentlemen from Belfast Lewis Crocker! I love being here. It’s great to be back.”

Lewis Crocker:

“Firstly, everyone from Belfast and elsewhere, it’s great to be here. Thanks for coming out. March 1st is the biggest stage. I think the major difference is in this fight between me and him is this will be like my fifth time headlining. I felt more pressure against McKenna than I do against him. This is his first time in a big fight. I’ve done way more professional rounds.

"Paddy makes to want the thing that it’s North vs. South which it isn’t at all, it’s Belfast vs. Limerick. I represent all of Belfast, every community from Belfast and I couldn’t be more proud. I’m a proud Belfast man. The best thing to ever happen was that Walker fight because they’ve taken so much confidence from it. Me and my team know what happened on fight week which affected me in that fight. I’ve made no excuses because I’m not a bitch. I’m not like this man here. I made no excuses and I battled it out.

"I’ve beat a better fighter than he’s ever beat. Let’s not forget, the worst version of me beat the best version of Conah Walker. I take confidence away from that. They’re taking way too much confidence from the Walker fight and I’ll be a different man, I’ll be a tough man to beat on March 1st – mark my words! I beat this man, without a doubt. It’s going to be the toughest night of his life.”

Billy Nelson:

“There’s absolutely no way Paddy Donovan punches anywhere near remotely as hard as Lewis Crocker. Yes, he’s a skilled fighter. This is a very skilled man (points to Lewis Crocker). 100 amateur fights and only lost 10. A fantastic skilled fighter.

"This is going to be a cracking fight, but Paddy Donovan will get stopped by Lewis Crocker – 100%. The difference between the two fighters is, in my opinion and no disrespect to the opposition, Lewis Crocker is the more rounded professional. He’s fought better opposition. Paddy has not fought anyone in the top 30. A fully fledged Welterweight. On March 1st he’s going to find out what a fully-fledged powerful Welterweight is.”

Paddy Donovan:

“You’re afraid of Walker so you got forced to fight me. You had no other choice but to fight me. I knock Lewis Crocker out. I don’t believe Lewis is a world-class fighter. I think he’s a top-level British level fighter but not a world class fighter. There’s levels, and I’m a lot better than Lewis.

"I’ve had ten fights and I’m in the top ten in the world. It took him 20 fights. In his 16th fight he fought a guy with 40 losses on his record, and you’re telling me he's a better fighter than me? That’s right, journeyman. I believe Walker won the fight. It was a tight fight, but I believe Walker won the fight. I believe Crocker was scared to rematch Walker because he knew he was going to get beat in the rematch.

"He was forced to fight me. You don’t want to fight me. You never called me out, we’ve been pushing for this fight for the last 12 months – not once did you talk about it. I believe I have the best team around me possible. I have the perfect team. I believe I’ll get the job done in tremendous fashion. On the night I’ll have more support there than him. Lewis Crocker – I’m going to give you the hiding of your life come March 1st. I’m going to separate the men from the boys. I’m going to show you what a real Irish fighter is.”

Andy Lee:

“It’s a huge opportunity Eddie – thank you for putting it on. Thank you for bringing it to Belfast. Paddy is going to announce himself on the world stage. People in boxing have known about Paddy Donovan, and people who have seen him fight will know about him, but he’s ready to step-up now.

"He’s 26. It’s the perfect age for a Welterweight. He’s maturing physically and mentally, and in his home life as well. I think this fight has come at the perfect time for him. It’s just going to be a celebration for him. People are expecting a very hard fight for him, and it will be in a certain way because we’re going into the cauldron of Belfast and we’re the away fighter and all of that stuff, but in terms of the boxing aspect I think Paddy Donovan is just too good. He’s a generational talent, and you’re going to see that on March 1st.

"I know what Paddy can do, and he hasn’t even shown any of it yet. The heavy hands of Crocker, we know he’s a big puncher, but people do know about Paddy’s punching too. If you ask anyone that spars him or shared the ring with him, you’ll see how powerful he is. I would argue that he’s the bigger puncher out of the two of them. I hold the pads for everybody that I work with – this man pound-for-pound is the biggest puncher out of the lot. I think Lewis has skill as well, but I think Paddy has a lot of power too”

Tommy McCarthy:

“It just came about yesterday basically. Like Steven said, me and him are mates. We’ve been sparring since we were 13. But this is strictly business. Winner stays on. I need a win to continue to keep providing for my family. I will win. I’m very confident of it. I’m looking forward to a great fight.”

Steven Ward:

“I can’t wait Eddie. It’s a fight I’ve been waiting on for a while. I thought it would have happened before now. For me, people are saying it’s the last dance, but I believe it’s the catalyst. I’ve always wanted to win the British Title. Win this, fight which I expect to do, then we’ll go for it. Must-win. I’m confident. Me and Tommy are big mates, we’ve sparred countless hours together, but this is different on the night under the lights. We’re both going in to win. I’m confident I’ll win.”

Ruadhan Farrell:

“I’m ready to shine again. What an opportunity. Thank you to Eddie Hearn and Matchroom. On Saturday March 1st I put this fight to bed.”

Gerard Hughes:

“I’m glad to be here. I actually feel like I’m in a toxic relationship with Ruadhan Farrell. I can’t go anywhere without his name being mentioned. I’m just glad for the opportunity and it will be a great fight. I didn’t take a backwards step, and he didn’t take a backwards step. That’s all we know. I can’t wait to fight.”

Jack O’Neill:

“I’m made my debut and my second pro fight at the SSE Arena. I’m fighting at Ulster Hall on February 1st and then to be on this card is unbelievable. Big shout out to my management team.”

Rising Irish boxing star Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (14-0, 11 KOs), the reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) Continental Welterweight Champion, had to withdraw from a planned “stay busy” fight in December due to a minor injury but now he’s preparing to fight his arch-rival in arguably the most anticipated Irish boxing match in history.

An All-Irish showdown between Donovan, who fights out of Limerick and trains in Dublin, and Lewis “The Croc” Crocker (20-0, 11 KOs), of Belfast, Northern Ireland, is set for March 1st. “Point of Pride” will headline a Matchroom Boxing card to be streamed live on DAZN from SES Arena in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) world title eliminator. As soon as two fights away, Donovan could get his world title shot, if he defeats Crocker, as the IBF mandatory challenger.

“There’s something different about a good Irish fighter and I believe I’m the next,” Donovan proclaimed. “I think having turned pro at 19 and now 25, it took many life changes since turning pro. It’s so much what I’ve learned in the gym that counts the most as it is the ups-and-downs of life – becoming a husband and father, losing loved ones – that helped me to improve. I’ve improved as a person and that helped me become a better fighter.”

A true throwback fighter, Donovan is currently rated in three of the four major sanctioning bodies: WBA #5, IBF #6, and World Boxing Council #14. He has dreamed of being a world champion since he was seven years old.

“I am in an amazing position, so I thank God for that and my team, Andy Lee (head trainer/co-manager) and (NYC-based attorney) Keith Sullivan (co-manager),” Donovan noted. “It’s great to be ranked so highly at this stage of my career, but I am ranked where I am supposed to be. To be ranked so high in three major sanctioning bodies is brilliant. I know I will not stop until I’m world champion.

“I am always in the gym and thinking about my next challenge. I’m saying it’s time. I love what I do. I’m very grateful to God for being in this position. I believe in God’s plan for me to become world champion.”

“It is going to be an explosive fight for sure,” commented NYC attorney Keith Sullivan, who co-manages Donovan with former world middleweight champion Andy Lee, who is also Paddy’s head trainer. “Two tough, rugged Irishmen with a lot to prove to the world. We were concerned about the injury but feel confident that it won’t pose an issue for the March 1st battle. Paddy is locked in and training hard under the ever-watchful guidance of trainer Andy Lee.”

Donovan has dedicated his last few fights to Pieta, using his boxing platform to promote the suicide prevention charity that provides mental health services throughout Ireland. Paddy lost two relatives to suicide. The Pietra Crisis Helpline, 1-800-247-247, offers crisis intervention support, 24 hours a day 365 days a year, to anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or engaging in self-harm and also supports those bereaved through suicide.

About DAZN Group

DAZN Group is one of the fastest growing sports media companies in the world. Headquartered in the UK and with employees in over 25 countries, our businesses touch every aspect of the way fans engage with sports; from production, through to content distribution and commercialization. DAZN Group is home to DAZN, the leading global sport destination, as well as the popular sport portal, DAZN News. DAZN is leading the charge to give sports fans around the world access to sport anytime, anywhere. DAZN guarantees affordable access on most connected devices including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles. DAZN is now live in more than 200 countries and territories after first launching in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Japan in 2016.

DAZN is a leading digital sports platform in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, Canada, US and the UK.  Its wide range of exclusive content includes top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, LaLiga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world - Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC.  

DAZN is the NFL’s global partner and, from the 2023 season, will be the only place for fans around the world to watch every NFL match. DAZN is a global home for boxing and combat sports through its partnerships with Matchroom Boxing the Professional Fighters League. With the most authentic voice in the sport, DAZN is the only brand that can reach across all markets and audiences cohesively in boxing, unlike any other broadcaster. DAZN is also a global home for Women’s Football with UEFA Women’s Champions League and Finetwork Liga F.  DAZN is adding more and more sport to its platform to create a destination for sports fans.  

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DAZN is a global, privately-owned company with employees in over 25 countries.

DAZN is available on most connected devices including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles, ensuring that fans have access to ground-breaking rights catalogue and slate of incredible content. In the UK and globally, DAZN can be accessed on Samsung, LG, Sony and Panasonic Smart TVs and on Games Consoles including Playstation and Xbox. Subscribers also have access to DAZN on their Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and Apple TV and find the app on their iPhone, iPad, android and mobile.  

About Matchroom Boxing

After the success of snooker in the 1980s, Matchroom Sport moved into boxing with two small hall shows followed by Frank Bruno v Joe Bugner at Tottenham Hotspur’s ground – the biggest boxing event of 1987. That launched the company into the boxing big-time, a position it has maintained ever since.

Through the 1990s Matchroom Sport’s boxing roster featured many of the biggest names in the sport including Lennox Lewis, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, Steve Collins and Naseem Hamed, all in world title fights and it continues to work with some of the biggest names in UK boxing including Audley Harrison, the 2000 Olympic Super-Heavyweight gold medalist.

Over the years, Matchroom Sport has built up long-standing relationships with broadcasters around the world and with the advent of the Prizefighter phenomenon, the company’s boxing division has never been in a stronger position.

From fantastic six round scraps between the sport’s journeymen, up to multi-million-dollar World Championship contests featuring the above fighters, the Pro Box series has it all. Each show is packed with the very best in boxing action in a series that encompasses almost 25 years of Matchroom Sport’s commitment to bringing the highest quality to the global television market.