How important is Saturday’s world title fight for Paddy Donovan? The Irishman skipped the birth of his son because of training.

“I’ve only got to see him once since he’s born,” the Limerick southpaw said ahead of his rematch with Belfast’s undefeated Lewis Crocker.

The setting is Windsor Park soccer stadium in Belfast for what will be one of Irish boxing’s biggest nights with the IBF welterweight belt on the line. It’s billed by DAZN as the first all-Irish world title fight .

Donovan (14-1, 11 KOs) was in control in the first meeting back in March but was disqualified when he dropped Crocker (21-0, 11 KOs) with a punch after the eighth-round bell. Inconsolable afterward, Donovan said he didn’t hear it.

The first bout had been to become mandatory challenger to Jaron “Boots” Ennis ,

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