Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan's Belfast bout is chance to honour late John Cooney

Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan will contest an eliminator for the IBF welterweight belt in Belfast on Saturday, but they also have a chance to honour the legacy of John Cooney, who tragically died earlier this month

Boxing returns to Belfast for the first time since the tragic death a fortnight ago of John Cooney, who died as a result of a brain injury suffered in defeat to Welshman Nathan Howells at the Ulster Hall.

Belfast boy Lewis Crocker and Limerick’s Paddy Donovan are thus not only contesting an eliminator for the IBF welterweight crown at the Odyssey Arena, they are honouring the career of Cooney, paying their respects to him and to Irish boxing.

There will always be tension when a fighter from the south crosses the border to fight in Belfast. Home fighter Crocker is from the Protestant community, but he trained alongside Catholic kids in the gym and fought on the Irish team, which represents all 32 counties.

Cooney had a catastrophic bleed on the brain from which he never recovered, reminding us of the real dangers involved in our sport.

So this is boxing’s chance to reveal the best of itself, much as it did in Saudi last week when a brilliant card featured fantastic duels, none more so than the Callum Smith and Joshua Buatsi bout.

If that were a fight of the year contender, it could be joined by what is a guaranteed barnburner in Belfast between two unbeaten fighters of contrasting styles.

Donovan is a world class talent. We have had him in our London gym sparring with Adam Azim. He fancies himself to go all the way in this game, but this is big test in a visceral environment that he will have to handle.

Boxing is about so much more than just talent. Crocker is a proud fighter and packed into the weight. This would be a huge feather in his cap were he to win.

He fights in a similar style to mine. In my first defence of the WBA featherweight title I knew Bernard Taylor was a better boxer than me. He lost only eight bouts in 489 amateur contests and would have been favourite for gold had the USA not boycotted the 1980 Olympics.

But he could not match my intensity and his corner retired him before the ninth round. Crocker will have the crowd behind him and his favourite left hook could be kryptonite to the southpaw Donovan.

The Limerick man is quick, fluid, throws fancy combinations, and has a good check right hook, so Crocker has his work cut out. Donovan will be favourite, but Crocker’s size and with a partizan crowd against him, it could be his toughest engagement yet.

Follow Barry on X at @‌ClonesCyclone @mcguigan’s_Gym