Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan continue rise with wins in Belfast

There have been rumblings of a potential showdown given the noises coming from promoters Matchroom.

Paddy Donovan before his welterweight bout against Williams Andres Herrera at Ulster Hall in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

THE rise and rise of Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan continues as both scored stoppage wins at a packed Ulster Hall in Belfast on Saturday night to perhaps see them take another step towards each other.

Crocker took what Jose Felix had to give and then proceeded to take him apart to force a fifth-round stoppage to produce yet another statement win.

The only downside was that he was unable to win the vacant WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title due to weighing in at an agreed three pounds over the championship limit after the British Boxing Board of Control deemed it too dangerous to boil down to 147 after a check weight earlier in the week.

Felix was busy from the off and was smart in his approach, throwing as a patient Crocker moved inside.

Crocker's defence was tight, determined not to give anything away cheap as Gary Cully's loss to the same opponent was sound warning.

The fourth saw Crocker time a beauty of a left that clearly made a dent but Felix managed to ride that mini storm. However, his response was one blatant low blow followed hey a second that left referee Marcus McDonnell with no option but to dock a point.

The pendulum was firmly in Crocker's favour and he pressed home this advantage early in the next, a left to the body sending a distressed Felix down who somehow rose at the count of nine.

The direction of travel was clear but Felix wasn't going quietly, as he got through with a meaty right in the fifth, but this battle of the bangers was to soon end as Crocker back up the visitor and the left hand, that had been a big weapon throughout ,was detonated, landing on the jaw and the Mexicanwas down heavily.

Again, he somehow rose, but this time McDonnell wasn't prepared to let him continue, the fight waved off after 1.54 of the sixth to see Crocker improve to 19-0.

So what is next? There have been rumblings of a potential showdown with Limerick's Paddy Donovan - himself a winner by stoppage on the Ulster Hall card - and that is one that could be in the works given the noises coming from promoters, Matchroom.

But for now the Belfast man will enjoy a well-earned rest following a hectic run with five fights and wins in nine months that have put his career in a very favourable position.

Donovan retained his WBA Continental welterweight title and improved to 13-0 with a seventh-round stoppage of the game Williams Andres Herrera.

It was a patient start from Donovan who consistently worked off the southpaw jab in the opener with Herrera a little reluctant to engage, but did get through with a body shot.

Lewis Crocker celebrates winning

He was in complete command through four, but in the fifth, Herrera decided to roll the dice and began to press and throw with regularity, varying his work and landing some crisp shots including an eye-catching uppercut, but Donovan was happy with a toe-to-toe battle despite blood beginning to seep from the nose.

Into the second half of the fight as Herrera's confidence was growing but the Limerick man began to land his own uppercuts as both stood and traded some heavy shots on the inside.

Something had to give and it was Donovan who made the dent with a body shot forcing Herrera to take a knee. He rose but was down again, claiming a push but also seemed to dip the knee. Again he was up but a follow-up attack from Donovan and crisp right hand saw referee Bob Williams step in to wave the action off after 1.44 of the seventh.

Tommy McCarthy slipped to a second-straight defeat as Cheavon Clarke scored a fourth round win to claim the vacant WBA Inter-Continental cruiserweight title in the chief support slot.

'C4' came in with seven wins in as many contests and he fought with the confidence of a man who had yet to face adversity as a pro, opening and finishing with menacing intent.

McCarthy enjoyed moments of his own, but just couldn't hold off his fellow 33-year-old who powered home.