Padraig McCrory and Craig Richards clash could be headed to Belfast

A light heavyweight fight between Padraig McCrory and Craig Richards is on tap for Matchroom’s Paddy Donovan-Lewis Crocker bill in Belfast on March 1.

Promoter Eddie Hearn indicated last week that McCrory would box on the card against a fighter from the UK, and a source has told BoxingScene that an announcement could happen this week, but that Richards – at something of a crossroads in his career – has yet to put to pen to paper.

Richards, 34 years old and trained by Shane McGuigan, lost to Willy Hutchinson in a minor June upset via decision and is now 18-4-1 (11 KOs). That defeat, which was part of the Queensberry vs. Matchroom event in Saudi Arabia, came after a February victory over Boris Crighton. The other losses came to Joshua Buatsi, Dmitry Bivol and Frank Buglioni in competitive 12-round affairs.

Belfast’s 36-year-old McCrory is 19-1 (9 KOs) and, having lost to Edgar Berlanga last February, defeated Leonard Carrillo in November.