Tyrone McKenna refuses to seek Lewis Crocker’s secrets ahead of Croke Park Paddy Donovan clash
Tyrone McKenna hasn’t looked for the inside track from Lewis Crocker ahead of his Croke Park showdown with Paddy Donovan.
‘The Mighty Celt’ shares the ring with ‘The Real Deal’ on the massive Katie Taylor farewell fight night on Saturday night.
The Belfast veteran is aware the only man to defeat the stylish southpaw is a man from his own city, former world champion Lewis Crocker.
‘The Croc’ holds two victories over Donovan, and as such, could share some clues as to how to get one over the IBF’s mandatory for the welterweight world title.
However, the Oliver Plunket’s graduate doesn’t operate like that. McKenna insists he has no interest in putting his former opponent in a position where he would have to reveal information on the man he beat to become world champion.
The entertaining war lover, who also shared the ring with Crocker, says he will rely on his own experience rather than looking for secrets.
“I don’t like putting people in that position to say stuff behind all the other fighters’ backs,” McKenna said when speaking to Irish-boxing.com.
“I’ve been boxing for 30 years and if I can’t read a fight and read a fighter, there’s something wrong.”
McKenna also believes information from Crocker would have limited value given that Donovan will approach their Croke Park clash differently.
“Lewis had a different fight completely with me than he did with Paddy,” he explained.
“It’s hard to gauge what he’s even going to say.
“His point is that part of the same Paddy isn’t going to turn up for me that turned up for Lewis. It’s going to be a completely different game plan.
“So what’s the point?”
McKenna also has his own firsthand experience of the former world title challenger to draw on and that interaction saw him develop a liking for his soon to be rival.
“I’ve liked Paddy for years. We have sparred over the years,” McKenna said.
“I’ve always had good things to say about him. He is a world-class fighter. I do respect him, but obviously all the respect will go out the window on September 5th.”
McKenna even has admiration for Donovan’s trainer Andy Lee, who he describes as his boxing hero.
But none of that will matter when the opening bell sounds.
“There’s massive respect going on, but as I said, respect goes out the window on September 5th,” he added.
“I’ll not respect anyone in the ring.”
