IN WHAT is a bumper weekend for boxing, Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing is putting on a stacked show at the SSE Arena in Belfast. The welterweight clash between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan will headline the show.
With both men bringing an unbeaten record into the fight, the SSE Arena is in for a treat in what promises to be an excellent fight for the boxing purists. Will Crocker pick up a big win in front of his hometown crowd? Or will Paddy Donovan gatecrash the party? In this Crocker vs Donovan betting guide, I explore the betting markets and pick some value bets.
Crocker vs Donovan odds
There is very little to separate Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan on Saturday night, with the bookies putting very little between them. This makes the match-winner market extremely attractive compared to other recent major fights. Let’s see how the bookies think this one is going to play out.
- Lewis Crocker to win at 21/20 with SBK
- Paddy Donovan to win at 1/1 with Betfred
- Draw at 29/2 with BetMGM
Crocker vs Donovan betting tips
As you can see from the odds, Lewis Crocker vs Paddy Donovan is one of the tightest fights to call in recent memory. Picking a side here is challenging, which means there is plenty of value across the betting markets, especially with sign-up offers from our suggested bookmakers. The following are three value bets we have found for Saturday’s fight.
Under 10.5 rounds
Lewis Crocker vs Paddy Donovan is the very definition of a ‘pick-em’ fight. Both fighters have an extremely strong knockout percentage, and both will be looking to grab an emphatic victory on Saturday night. While calling a winner is extremely difficult, I feel like this one could be very explosive. Donovan has an extremely good knockout percentage, and despite going to the judges in two of his last three fights, Crocker has started to look deadly under coach Billy Nelson. At 1/1 with SBK, I think there is plenty of value in backing this to go under 10.5 rounds.
Bet on under 10.5 rounds at 1/1 with SBK
Lewis Crocker via TKO/KO/DQ
Lewis Crocker is going to be fired up in front of his hometown crowd on Saturday, and he knows a win will seriously push him up the division’s rankings. He is on the verge of a major break-out, and a dominant victory over another big talent in the division will do just that. Make no mistake, Donovan will be more than used to a Belfast crowd, having fought there four times in the past. He will also bring considerable support with him.
However, while Donovan has the better KO percentage, I don’t think he has faced someone with the punching power of Crocker yet. Crocker has looked lethal in recent fights, and I believe there is a good chance he will finish this one. You can back Lewis Crocker to win via TKO/KO/DQ with Betfred at 2/1.
Bet on Lewis Crocker to win via TKO/KO/DQ at 2/1 with Betfred
Fight to go the distance
If you want to look at alternative betting options for Saturday, then I would consider betting on the fight to go the distance. The benefit of this is that it does not require you to pick a winner, which, as I’ve mentioned multiple times in this preview, is extremely difficult. Two of Crocker’s last three fights have gone the distance, and Donovan has proven himself to be one of the most technically gifted boxers in Ireland. If you want an alternative betting option to the two previously listed, then betting on the fight to go the distance at 4/5 with BetMGM offers good value.
Bet on to fight to go the distance at 4/5 with BetMGM
How to watch Crocker vs Donovan
- Location: The SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Date and time: Saturday 1st March, 22:00 GMT
- How to watch: DAZN
Crocker vs Donovan undercard
Eddie Hearn has put together what promises to be an entertaining night of boxing in Belfast on Saturday. Crocker vs Donovan is the top billing on an eight-match card, with Craig Richards vs Padraig McCrory. McCrory will be the hometown hero in this one and will look to build on his win against Leonard Carillo in the same arena back in November. Richards is narrowly favoured here, with bet365 pricing him at 8/15 with McCrory at 6/4.
Irish prospect Shauna Browne will go toe-to-toe with the unbeaten Elif Nur Turhan. Browne is heavily backed to win the fight, with bet365 pricing her at 1/7.
Here is the full card for the show:
- 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
Craig Mahood
Craig Mahood is an expert in sports betting and online casinos and has worked with the company since 2020. He joined the Betting & Gaming team at The Sun in June 2022 and works closely with the leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to provide content on all areas of sports betting and gaming. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter at the Scottish Sun, covering Scottish football with particular focus on Celtic and Rangers, As well as football, he has covered horse racing, boxing, darts, the Olympics and tennis for the Sun.
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