The Irish and Northern Irish fighters entered the ring with fans expecting a close contest. Donovan quickly took control, showcasing his skills and putting Crocker on the back foot. Throughout the fight, Donovan landed several significant blows, including a knockdown at an unspecified point.
The referee, Marcus McDonnell, played a significant role in the fight's outcome. He deducted two points from Donovan for using his head, a decision some observers felt was harsh. The pivotal moment came in the eighth round when Donovan dropped Crocker with a right hook just after the bell. McDonnell immediately disqualified Donovan, ending the fight in dramatic fashion.
"The ref took my dreams AWAY tonight," Donovan said after the match, expressing his disappointment.
Crocker, while victorious, seemed unsatisfied with the result.
"That's NOT the way I want to win a fight!" he stated, acknowledging the controversial nature of his win.
The boxing community reacted strongly to the fight's outcome. Mark Tibbs, a respected trainer, felt the referee's decisions were "very very tight" and called for a rematch. Ben Shalom criticized the referee for being "very harsh on Donovan throughout" and praised Donovan's performance.
Dave Coldwell offered a detailed analysis, saying Donovan "boxed brilliant tonight" and that the fight was "completely one-sided." He questioned the disqualification decision while acknowledging that the point deductions weren't entirely unjustified.
Dillian Whyte didn't mince words, calling the result "a Crocker shit," showing his disapproval of the outcome.
Other fighters chimed in as well. Liam Smith sympathized with Donovan, noting he "was on the verge of winning." Michael Conlan praised both fighters and called for a rematch. Paul Smith criticized Donovan's final action, while Michael McKinson insisted that Donovan had "beat Crocker" despite the official result.
The controversial ending left many questions unanswered and calls for a rematch. With a potential world title shot against Jaron Ennis on the line, the stakes were high, and the unsatisfying conclusion will likely have significant implications for both fighters' careers moving forward.