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Lewis Crocker hoping for war on Saturday and aims to follow same path as world champ Burnett

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The fact that Ferenc Jarko lasted just 67 seconds with Lewis Crocker [1(1)-0] back in March may have, understandably, led some to believe that the Belfast welter was handed a soft touch in what was his first fight.

Just 20 years of age and making his debut, a nice handy opponent was almost expected.

However, while we didn’t get to see it at the Waterfront three months ago, Jarko later proved himself to be a game fighter, bringing Dublin light welter Stephen Carroll the full six on the Celtic Clash 2 bill and even taking a round off Shortty.

Indeed it seems, like many more in the future, he just couldn’t handle the power of ‘The Croc.’ The South Belfast youngster takes confidence from his former foe’s subsequent performance ahead of an early step up this coming Saturday.

Crocker boxes, again over four at the Waterfront Hall, on the ‘Battle of Belfast’ bill, live on BoxNation, and takes on notably game Bulgarian Radoslav Mitev [9(2)-31(13)].

The crowd-pleasing Crocker is looking forward to a good scrap and told Irish-Boxing.com how “he [Mitev] comes to fight, I come to fight as well, it’ll be a good tear-up, toe-to-toe.”

“The guy for my debut came to fight as well, but just felt my power straight away. I heard he [Jarko] did well with another good up-and-coming guy so that’s good confidence for me, if I can take someone out that early.”

“Hopefully Saturday is the same. We’ll trade leather and see who stays up the longest!”

“You get some guys, journeymen, who make you look bad so they will. Someone who’s coming to win will always open up and give more opportunities.”

Belfast boxing is on a high at the moment, with Ryan Burnett winning the IBF bantamweight world title in just his seventeenth fight on Saturday just gone.

It’s a path Crocker can see himself emulating, and he outlined how “I would love to follow the same path Ryan has, British title then World. He was world class on Saturday. If I can imitate that it would be lovely.”

“The last camp went good, this camp went great, I’m really looking forward to the next one even – but we’ll get this one out of the way and get back into camp straight away.”

“Belfast is booming at the minute so it is. Hopefully there’s a good turnout on Saturday.”

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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