Lewis Crocker
{{Short description|Northern Irish boxer (born 1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox boxer
| name = Lewis Crocker
| image =
| nickname = The Croc
| weight = Welterweight
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1997|01|06}}
| birth_place = Belfast, Northern Ireland
| height = 5 ft 9 in
| nationality = Northern Irish
| style = Orthodox
| total = 21
| wins = 21
| KO = 11
| losses = 0
| draws =
| no contests =
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry|{{NIR}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|European Schoolboy Championships}}
{{MedalBronze|2011 Grozny|59kg}}
}}
Lewis Crocker (born 6 January 1997){{Cite web|title=BoxRec: Lewis Crocker|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/786778|website=boxrec.com|access-date=2020-05-25}} is a Northern Irish professional boxer who has won numerous European titles at welterweight. Lewis won the WBO European welterweight title in 2020 and currently holds the WBA Continental European Title after defeating Tyrone McKenna in the Battle of Belfast on 2 December 2023.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=26 August 2020|title=Lewis Crocker Blasts Out Greene, Liam Taylor Edges Tetley|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/lewis-crocker-blasts-out-greene-liam-taylor-edges-tetley-results--151262|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=26 August 2020|website=BoxingScene.com|language=en-us}}
Amateur career
Amateur boxing in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland is governed by the Irish Amateur Boxing Association. As an amateur, Crocker fought out of the Cairn Lodge Boxing Club in Belfast before eventually moving to Holy Trinity in the west of the city. His first major honour came in July 2011, when he represented Ireland in the European Schoolboy Championships. He earned a bronze medal for his efforts.{{Cite web|title=Irish team for European Schoolboys + List of past medalists|url=https://www.irish-boxing.com/irish-team-for-european-schoolboys-list-of-past-medalists/|last=O'Neill|first=Joe|date=2017-07-14|website=Irish Boxing|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-26}} Overall, Lewis had 97 amateur bouts, winning 90.{{Cite web|title=LEWIS CROCKER: "IF YOU COULD GET OUT OF WORK EARLY, WOULDN'T YOU?!"|url=https://theworldboxingwall.com/2018/04/16/lewis-crocker-if-you-could-get-out-of-work-early-wouldnt-you/|date=2018-04-16|language=en|access-date=2020-05-26}} On the way, he won seven All-Ireland junior titles. He also represented Ireland at the European Youth Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2012{{Cite web|title=EUROPEAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS, Sofia, Bulgaria|url=https://ejbc2012.bgboxing.org/Docs/C96A.pdf|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}} as well as the World Junior Championships in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2013.{{Cite web|title=IABA ANNOUNCE JUNIORS SQUAD|url=http://www.irishnews.com/sport/2013/08/20/news/iaba-announce-juniors-squad-67951/|website=The Irish News|language=en|access-date=2020-05-26}}{{Cite web|title=Irish boxers in World Junior semi-finals » #TeamIreland – Olympics|url=https://olympics.ie/sports/boxing/8578-irish-boxers-in-world-junior-semi-finals.html|language=en|access-date=2020-05-26}}{{Cite web|title=Boxing: Medals in sight for Ireland team|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/boxing-medals-in-sight-for-ireland-team-29573367.html|website=independent|date=12 September 2013 |language=en|access-date=2020-05-26}} According to Irish Boxing, he holds the record for the quickest knockout in Irish amateur boxing history at under 12 seconds. He won the 2015 Irish Boxing KO of the year for this effort.{{Cite web|title=WINNERS: The Irish-Boxing.com Awards|url=https://www.irish-boxing.com/winners-irish-boxing-com-awards/|last=O'Neill|first=Joe|date=2015-12-31|website=Irish Boxing|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-26}} In 2018, Lewis won a settlement over the Ulster Boxing Council (UBC). The UBC did not select Lewis to represent Ireland in the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games despite a recommendation by the Irish Amateur Boxing Association's head coach for Ulster. Lewis believed he was not picked for the NI Commonwealth Youth Games squad because of his Protestant background or perceived unionist political opinions.{{Cite news|date=2018-09-25|title=Boxer's discrimination fight|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-45628095|access-date=2020-05-26}}
Professional career
Crocker made his professional debut on 10 March 2017, scoring a first-round technical knockout (TKO) victory over Ferenc Jarko at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.{{Cite web|title=BoxRec: Lewis Crocker vs. Ferenc Jarko|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/744485/2135768|last=|first=|date=|website=boxrec.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=25 May 2020}}
Crocker faced Paddy Donovan in a final eliminator for IBF welterweight title on 1 March 2025 at SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.{{cite news |last1=Iskenderov |first1=Parviz |title=Paddy Donovan faces Lewis Crocker in title eliminator: I will not stop until I'm champ |url=https://www.fightmag.com/paddy-donovan-faces-lewis-crocker-in-title-eliminator-i-will-not-stop-until-im-champ/ |work=FIGHTMAG |date=30 December 2024}}{{cite news |title=Details confirmed for 'Real Deal' Donovan's next bout in March |url=https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/sport/1690973/details-confirmed-for-real-deal-donovan-s-next-bout-in-march.html |work=www.limerickleader.ie |date=30 December 2024 |language=en}} Donovan knocked Crocker to the canvas at the end of the eighth round but was disqualified after the referee ruled the bell had gone before the punch was delivered. He had already been deducted points in rounds six and eight for illegal use of the elbow and head.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/articles/cqjd41g0ee4o|title=Crocker wins dramatic fight as Donovan disqualified|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2 March 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/boxing/chaos-reigns-as-lewis-crocker-wins-controversial-paddy-donovan-bout-by-disqualification/a107126234.html|title=Chaos reigns as Lewis Crocker wins controversial Paddy Donovan bout by disqualification|publisher=Belfast Telegraph|accessdate=2 March 2025}} Donovan appealed against his disqualification and on 27 March 2025, the IBF announced it had granted him a rematch.
{{cite web|url=https://boxingnewsonline.net/paddy-donovan-wins-appeal-sets-stage-for-crocker-rematch/|title=Paddy Donovan wins appeal, sets stage for Crocker rematch|publisher=Boxing News Online|accessdate=27 March 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2025/0327/1504472-donovan-granted-rematch-with-crocker-by-ibf/|title=Paddy Donovan granted rematch with Lewis Crocker by IBF|publisher=RTE|accessdate=27 March 2025}}
Professional boxing record
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=
|nc=
|ko-wins=11
|ko-losses=
|dec-wins=9
|dec-losses=
|dq-wins=1
|dq-losses=
|wins=21}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center |
| {{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result !Record !Opponent !Type !Round, time !Date !Location !Notes |
|---|
| 21
|{{yes2}}Win |21-0 |align="left"|Paddy Donovan |{{abbr|DQ|Disqualification}} |8 (12), {{small|3:00}} |1 Mar 2025 |style="text-align:left;"|{{small|SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland}} |align=left|{{small|Donovan disqualified for punching after the bell. Eliminator for IBF welterweight title}} |
| 20
|{{yes2}}Win |20-0 |align="left" |Conah Walker |UD |10 |22 Jun 2024 |align=left|{{small|Resorts World Arena, Birmingham, England}} |align=left|{{small|Won WBA International welterweight title}} |
| 19
|{{yes2}}Win |19-0 |align="left" |Jose Felix Jr |TKO |5, 1:07 |27 Jan 2024 |align=left|{{small| Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland}} |
| 18
|{{yes2}}Win |18-0 | align="left" |Tyrone McKenna |{{abbr|UD|Unanimous decision}} |10 |02 Dec 2023 |align=left|{{small|SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland}} |align=left|{{small|Won WBA Continental European Welterweight Title}} |
| 17
|{{yes2}}Win |17-0 | align="left" |Greyvin Mendoza |TKO |4, 2:29 |04 Aug 2023 | align="left" |Falls Park, Belfast,Northern Ireland | |
| 16
|{{yes2}}Win |16–0 |align=left|Octavian Gratii |PTS |6 |20 May 2023 |align=left|{{small|DoubleTree Hilton Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland}} | |
| 15
|{{yes2}}Win |15–0 |align=left|Joel Julio |KO |2 (6), {{small|1:59}} |14 Apr 2023 |align=left|{{small|Glasgow Boxing Academy, Glasgow, Scotland}} | |
| 14
|{{yes2}}Win |14–0 |align=left|Artem Haroyan |TKO |7 (10), {{small|0:47}} |05 Nov 2021 |align=left|{{small|Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland}} |align=left|{{small|Retained WBO European welterweight title}} |
| 13
|{{yes2}}Win |13–0 |align=left|Deniz Ilbay |PTS |10 |12 Mar 2021 |align=left|{{small|Bolton Whites Hotel, Bolton, England}} |align=left|{{small|Retained WBO European welterweight title}} |
| 12
|{{yes2}}Win |12–0 |align=left|Louis Greene |TKO |7 (10), {{small|2:02}} |26 Aug 2020 |align=left|{{small|Production Park Studios, South Kirkby, England}} |align=left|{{small|Won vacant WBO European welterweight title}} |
| 11
|{{yes2}}Win |11–0 |align=left|John Thain |PTS |8 |1 Feb 2020 |align=left|{{small|Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland}} | |
| 10
|{{yes2}}Win |10–0 |align=left|Ohio Kain Iremiren |PTS |6 |11 Oct 2019 |align=left|{{small|Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland}} | |
| 9
|{{yes2}}Win |9–0 |align=left|Karim Aliliche |PTS |6 |21 Jun 2019 |align=left|{{small|Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland}} | |
| 8
|{{yes2}}Win |8–0 |align=left|Jumanne Camero |PTS |6 |17 May 2019 |align=left|{{small|Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland}} | |
| 7
|{{yes2}}Win |7–0 |align=left|William Warburton |{{abbr|PTS|Points decision}} |6 |18 Aug 2018 |align=left|{{small|Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland}} | |
| 6
|{{yes2}}Win |6–0 |align=left|Adam Grabiec |TKO |1 (4), {{small|1:19}} |30 Jun 2018 |align=left|{{small|SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland}} | |
| 5
|{{yes2}}Win |5–0 |align=left|Scott James |TKO |3 (4) |21 Apr 2018 |align=left|{{small|SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland}} | |
| 4
|{{yes2}}Win |4–0 |align=left|Gyula Rozsas |TKO |2 (4), {{small|1:50}} |18 Nov 2017 |align=left|{{small|SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland}} | |
| 3
|{{yes2}}Win |3–0 |align=left|Sylwester Walczak |{{abbr|KO|Knockout}} |1 (4), {{small|1:47}} |29 Jul 2017 |align=left|{{small|Tudor Grange Leisure Centre, Solihull, England}} | |
| 2
|{{yes2}}Win |2–0 |align=left|Radoslav Mitev |TKO |2 (4), {{small|2:32}} |17 Jun 2017 |align=left|{{small|Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland}} | |
| 1
|{{yes2}}Win |1–0 |align=left|Ferenc Jarko |{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}} |1 (4), {{small|1:07}} |10 Mar 2017 |align=left|{{small|Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland}} | |
References
{{Reflist}}