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TV-ready Lewis Crocker – “There’s obviously hype for a reason”

It’s fair to say that, for the people in the Waterfront Hall on March 10th, Lewis Crocker‘s debut was a ‘blink-and-you’ll-miss-it’ affair.

However, if you were sitting at home watching on BoxNation, you would have missed the 66-second blowout altogether. A late change to the running order last month saw Crocker take out Ferenc Janko just before 7:00pm, before the live broadcast began.

Considering the hype around the Belfast 20 year old’s first fight, the move left a lot of Irish boxing fans disappointed.

The power-punching welterweight admits that he was frustrated himself that the dominant debut wasn’t shown, however he is promising another knockout this time round with the cameras turned on.

Speaking yesterday at the press conference to officially launch the June 17th ‘Battle of Belfast’ card, Crocker recalled his debut.

‘The Croc’ described how “I was told in the changing rooms that I was going to be delayed so it was on TV.”

“Not that it mattered, it didn’t change my performance or affect me, but I was a bit unhappy that it wasn’t on TV – but what can you do?”

This time round, with his spot on the televised portion of the bill locked down, Crocker is looking for an inside the distance win once again – and doesn’t plan to hang around.

“We’ll go for seventy seconds! Only joking,” he laughed.

“It’s good to get the rounds in, and I don’t go into the fight to knock someone out – it just comes, like it did last time, and hopefully the same again happens.”

“In eight ounce gloves anything can happen, especially with my power. I’m confident it’s not going to go the distance again.”

Commenting on his much-talked about power, Crocker pointed out that he is not a one-dimensional slugger.

“It’s not like I’m just a big puncher,” he noted.

“You can’t just be a big puncher, you have to have boxing ability and a boxing brain. I’m smart, I don’t get caught much, I never have black eyes, busted noses, or that sort of stuff. I control my power.”

“There is a lot hype, but there’s obviously hype for a reason.”

Looking ahead to his next fight, also a four rounder, Crocker detailed how “this camp has been great so far, I’m getting more confident in my ability and I’m really pushing myself as well.”

“The gym is booming at the moment. Ray [Ginley] has done a great job with myself and all the other boxers and everyone is loving it. A happy fighter is a dangerous fighter.”

Long term, the South Belfast youngster is aiming right for the top, and reasoned how “Carl Frampton is ten years older than me, anything can happen in that amount of time.”

“I’ve a great team in MTK and Frank Warren, so if I keep dedicated, training the way I’m training, then why not?”

“That’s my ambition, to be world champion. As soon as I’m world champion I’ll be happy.”

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

Alongside Crocker, the bill next month features Jamie Conlan, Steven Ward, WBO European title fights for Paddy Barnes and Steve Ormond against Silveau Oltneau and Craig Evans respectively, and an IBF super featherweight title clash between Jono Carroll and Johnny Quigley.

Tickets for the night cost £30, £40, £60, and £150, and are available from the boxers involved.

LISTEN: Mick Conlan joins Gavan Casey and Joe O’Neill on Episode 4 of The Irish Boxing Show

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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