Crocker vs Donovan rematch ordered by IBF after controversial DQ

Paddy Donovan will get another shot at Lewis Crocker by order of the IBF.

The IBF has ordered a rematch between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan, following their controversial disqualification finish on March 1 in Belfast.

The IBF fielded the appeal from the team of Donovan, who was disqualified after the eighth round for a punch after the bell that dropped Crocker. Previously, Donovan had been deducted points in the sixth and eighth rounds for headbutts.

In short, the IBF has ruled that neither the fighters nor referee Marcus McDonnell “acted improperly,” but that McDonnell had not been in “optimal position” to separate the fighters as the eighth round came to a close, and that Donovan had been unable to hear the bell due to the level of noise from the crowd at The SSE Arena.

Donovan (14-1, 11 KO) will keep the disqualification loss on his record, but will get a second crack at Crocker (21-0, 11 KO), who became the IBF’s No. 1 contender at welterweight with the win earlier this month.

Crocker and Donovan have until April 11 to make a deal for the fight, and until July 25 to actually have the fight, though there’s usually some wiggle room allowed on the latter if necessary and agreed by the parties and all that.