Lewis Crocker vs Paddy Donovan: Odds, betting tips, undercard, and more

Crocker vs Donovan odds

Crocker vs Donovan is a real grudge match and a 50/50 contest. The winner will fire themselves up the rankings and towards major titles, sending the loser back to the drawing board. The competitive nature of the bout is reflected in the betting odds with traders working at the leading sportsbooks, making it a pick-em. Odds-makers seem at a loss to predict the winner and are happy to sit on the fence and allow bettors to decide.

An open betting market will always catch the attention of value hunters, but who wins? Crocker is the local fighter and will enjoy the backing of a vocal support inside the venue on Saturday evening. Despite starting in the ‘away’ corner, Donovan is a slight favourite with the most reputable bookmakers. The fighter from Limerick will bring many followers across the border this weekend, ensuring an electric atmosphere at the SSE Arena.

It doesn’t happen often enough, but on occasion, we see a boxing betting market packed with value. Without an obvious favourite, there’s an opportunity to take advantage. The fight-winner market is more appealing ahead of Crocker vs Donovan than it has been for a while. Here’s what the bookies make of Saturday’s showdown.

Lewis Crocker to win at Evens with Betfred
Draw at 14/1 with Betfred
Paddy Donovan to win at 5/6 with Betfred

Odds provided by Betfred are subject to change.

Crocker vs Donovan fight outcome odds

Predicting the outcome of the fight-winner market is easy to understand and popular, but it’s not the only useful betting market available ahead of Crocker vs Donovan in Belfast. The top sportsbooks featured throughout this site offer a long list of eye-catching markets, including total rounds, winning round, the fight to end within 60 seconds, and more. There’s something for everyone, and a bet guaranteed to boost your enjoyment on fight night.

Playing the specials can be a little trickier than predicting the winner, but the rewards are often worth winning. When betting on boxing, I advise studying the stats and form, including head-to-head scores, recent wins, how active they’ve been, injury news, and anything else you can find that may seem relevant. When you have the results of your research, it’s time to find the market that’s the best fit. That may be the fight to last more than 6.5 rounds or not to last the distance.

My favourite boxing betting special is the method of victory. With this market, you must predict which fighter will win and how they’ll achieve the result: on points or by stoppage. As you’ll see below, the odds are much better than you’ll find in the fight-winner betting.

Crocker to win on points at 9/2 with bet365
Crocker to win by KO/TKO at 2/1 with bet365
Donovan to win on points at 11/5 with bet365
Donovan to win by KO/TKO at 15/4 with bet365

Odds provided by bet365 are subject to change.

Croc brings a 55% KO average

Lewis Crocker is the unbeaten 28-year-old from Belfast known as “The Croc.” The 5’ 11” orthodox is currently ranked number one in the United Kingdom at the weight and 11th in the global charts, a list currently topped by American duo Jaron Ennis and Ryan Garcia. Win on Saturday in his home city, and Crocker will race through the pecking order toward the big-name opponents and big-money fights. His fate rests in his hands.

Crocker brings a professional boxing record showing 20 wins from as many starts, with 11 coming inside the distance. He made his debut back in 2017 with a first-round stoppage win in Belfast and finished his first six opponents with time to spare. He’s a talented boxer with the work-rate and power in both hands to swing a fight in his favour, meaning Lewis is dangerous from the opening bell to the final punch.

Croc warmed up for this fight with an impressive 10-round points win over Conah Walker in Birmingham, England, back in the summer. It was a bad-tempered duel that swung back and forth, with the beaten man deducted a point for low blows. But there was no denying the winner, with the scorecards ruling in Crocker’s favour by margins of three rounds, three rounds, and one round. Who knows what might have happened had Walker held his nerve?

Fans know exactly what they’re getting from Crocker. He’ll be in great shape, fit, and ready to fight for all 12 rounds. But he also has the power needed to end things early, taking the decision out of the judges’ hands if the opportunity presents itself.

Stats:

Age: 27 years old
Height: 5’ 9”
Weight: Welterweight
Record: 20-0-0

Donovan is the real deal

Paddy Donovan makes the short journey from Limerick to Belfast on fight night with a real chance of winning and changing the course of his career. The 26-year-old is currently ranked number one in the weight category in Ireland and sits inside the top 20 in the world, currently ranked at 18. A win over a neighbour who’s ranked higher at the weight would push Donovan toward the top 10 and the title fights.

The fighter known as “The Real Deal” arrives with a professional boxing card showing 14 wins from as many fights, with all but three coming inside the distance. Paddy made his pro boxing debut in Belfast with victory in the opening round against Arturo Lopes. He scored three of his opening four wins by KO/TKO, including two in the first round. Paddy is a talented and accurate southpaw boxer, but he also brings power to the table, as evidenced by his 79% knockout average.

Donovan’s most recent win came in Leeds when stopping Lewis Ritson in round nine of a bout scheduled for ten. That stunning win at the First Direct Arena in May of last year nudged Paddy towards Saturday’s clash, and despite both men being inactive in recent months, a thrilling fight is guaranteed. If you fancy Donovan to win, it’s worth knowing he’s scored a K/TKO in each of his last five bouts.

Donavan has the power to add Crocker’s name to his hit list, but he’d be foolish to go looking for an early knockout. Instead, he’ll show his opponent the respect he deserves and plan to box his way into the contest.

Stats:

Age: 26 years old
Height: 5’ 9”
Weight: Welterweight
Record: 14-0-0

Crocker vs Donovan betting tips

Let’s now look at some of the best bets available on Crocker vs Donovan that will help make things more interesting and increase your chances of making a profit while you enjoy the action from Belfast.

Over 10.5 rounds

Both men possess the power to win this fight early, but neither will adopt a gung-ho approach on Saturday. Crocker must navigate his opponent’s tricky southpaw style and attempt to land strong ring hands through a tight defence. Donovan will plan to fire from distance, scoring points in the first few rounds and winning favour with the judges.

I expect Crocker vs Donovan to go into the later rounds. Bet on over 10.5 in the total rounds market, and it doesn’t matter who wins. You’ll land a profit as soon as the clock reaches the halfway point of the tenth round.

Bet on the fight to go over 10.5 rounds at 4/7 with bet365

Crocker to win

Saturday’s fight looks like a 50/50 split and I could build a strong case for either man claiming the victory. There’s a lot on the line here, and that will create a tense and nervy atmosphere with neither man willing to roll the dice and gamble too early. Crocker vs Donovan will be one for the boxing purists amongst us.

The home crowd will make a difference, and I’m picking Crocker in the fight-winner market. Follow my thinking, and it doesn’t matter if he wins by knockout or impresses the scoring judges. If Lewis wins, you’ll land the profits from your bet.

Bet on Crocker to win at evens with Betfred

Crocker on points

Looking for a bet at bigger odds to spark your Saturday night to life? Bet on Crocker to win on points in the method of victory market. Landing this bet is trickier than picking the home win, but the odds are much better, and the stats suggest we’re looking in the right places.

Crocker’s recent form shows he went ten rounds last time and has gone the distance in two of his previous three, boxing ten rounds with Tyrone McKenna and Connah Walker. Another win before a massive audience in Belfast would move his career to the next level, and the odds mean you can follow for a small stake.

Bet on Crocker to win on points at 9/2 with bet365

How to watch Crocker vs Donovan

Location: The SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Date and time: Saturday, 1st March 2025 at 22:00 GMT.
How to watch: DAZN

Crocker vs Donovan full-card

Crocker vs Donovan headlines an eight-fight card promoted by Eddie Hearn for Matchroom Sports. Here’s a list of every fight on the bill:

Lewis Crocker vs Paddy Donovan – Welterweight
Craig Richards vs Padraig McCrory – Super-middleweight
Shauna Browne vs Elif Nur Turhan – Lightweight
Kurt Walker vs Leon Woodstock – Featherweight
Tommy McCarthy vs Steven Ward – Cruiserweight
Ruadhan Farrell vs Gerard Hughes – Super bantamweight
Aaron Bowen vs Juan Cruz Cacheiro – Middleweight
Jack O’Neill vs Mohammed Wako – Super bantamweight

About the author

Frank Monkhouse

Frank is a former professional boxer at the renowned TKO Gym in London who has transitioned his career into sports betting writing. He has worked with some of the leading names in the industry, including world-renowned bookmakers and ambitious affiliates. A student of the formbook, he leans heavily on the stats and trends to help find readers the value.

Follow Frank on X: @FMonkhouse

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