Paddy Donovan is relishing the prospect of being the “underdog” against Lewis Crocker on Saturday evening in Belfast.
Donovan, 26, travels to Crocker’s home city in an eliminator for the IBF welterweight title held by Jaron “Boots” Ennis, and recognises that even though he trains out of nearby Dublin, it is Crocker who is likelier to be backed by bigger support.
The 28-year-old Crocker also enters his 21st professional contest – it will be Donovan’s 15th – and while both are undefeated, Donovan insists that he thrives from feeling under threat.
“I preferably like being the underdog,” he said. “I come from an underdog area [Ennis]. Privileged family that were always classed as the underdogs. It’s nice to have that little feeling inside to get back that feeling of being an underdog. If Lewis is favourite here in Belfast then well on him, but I like the feeling of being an underdog.
“I’ve never left the gym. Never in my life left the gym. Through debts, though losing family members to suicide, through very strong and difficult times, I’ve never left the gym.
“I’ve always worked and worked and worked and worked for these moments. You need cajones for this night, and I’ll have them on the night. I’m made for these big things. I’m made for these opportunities. I’ve worked so hard for this. In my head, I’ve always been the star, because deep down I know where I am supposed to be. That is right here at this table. This present moment. That’s where my life has taken me. I’m ready for it. I feel like I’m getting emotional – I’m that ready for it.”
Ennis fights Eimantas Stanionis, the WBA champion, in a unification contest on April 12 at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.
“Who cares where [our fight] is,” Donovan continued. “We’re going to fight. There’s going to be amazing support for Lewis. There’s going to be amazing support for me here in Belfast. It doesn’t really matter where it is.
“The main thing is we’re going to fight each other and we’re going to put on a show. We’re the two best welterweights probably in the last 20 or 30 years in Ireland. The two of us on the line for a world-title eliminator – it’s really big.”
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