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Lewis Crocker and Steven Donnelly building off each other ahead of Windsor fights


Next weekend both Lewis Crocker and Steven Donnelly will fight at Windsor Park

The Ray Ginley-trained duo will both feature on the Carl Frampton v Luke Jackson undercard at the Belfast football stadium on Saturday August 18th.

Welterweight Crocker, still just 21, will head into his seventh professional fight while Rio Olympian Donnelly, who will fight in the pros at light middleweight, will at last make his professional debut.

The pair have spent the past few weeks in camp and engaged in plenty of sparring that has Ginley confident ahead of his charges’ respective fights.

The young trainer outlined how “they’ve been absolutely brilliant sparring each other.”

“It’s been fantastic to watch. They’re both in there trying to help each other.”

It’s a mutually beneficial relationship for the pair, explains Ginley – with ‘The Croc’ keeping Donnelly sharp and ‘The Donn’ inspiring Crocker.

“Lewis is already adapted to the pro game and Steven benefits from that because he’s been so long and so successful in the amateurs,” said Ginley.

“Those little mistakes that might affect Steven as a pro are being punished by a hard-hitting Lewis. It helps him learn quickly! Steven is so good at making the adjustments and he isn’t rushing.”

” I’ve never known anyone to train as hard as Steven. He always does more than what’s asked of him and that inspires Lewis.

“Sometimes we even have to tell Steven not to work too hard. We have to tell him to take a day off or a weekend off!”

“Coming with the Olympic pedigree and having been part of that high-performance set-up, Steven has shown the lads in the gym the type of work ethic required to succeed at the highest levels of the sport.”

Neither boxer have opponents confirmed for the stadium show which will be aired live on BT Sport.

Crocker, who is yet to fight on live TV, will be hoping to break that duck next Saturday while Donnelly, who wants to be fast-tracked, will be looking to make a statement right from the off.

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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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