Lewis Crocker v Paddy Donovan previewed by man who has shared the ring with both of them

Tyrone McKenna has shared the ring with both Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan so he should have a better idea than most of what to expect this weekend.

The first meeting between 'The Croc' and 'The Real Deal' ended controversially back in March, with Donovan disqualified for striking Crocker after the bell at the end of the eighth round.

The Limerick southpaw looked to be cruising to victory at the time and is a massive favourite for Saturday's rematch, with the vacant IBF world welterweight title on the line.

McKenna lost to fellow Belfast fighter Crocker by unanimous decision in December 2013 and has shared many rounds of sparring with Donovan over the years.

"Because of what happened in the last fight, a lot of controversy has just made this fight massive," said McKenna.

"You would think from the last fight everyone's going to be on Paddy Donovan's side and say that it's going to be an easy night, but the way Lewis Crocker's been training, and the pressure kind of is off Lewis Crocker because of the last time.

"So he won't have the same kind of pressure that he had because everyone's seeing Paddy Donovan as the favorite now, so he's going in with a different kind of mindset and he's going in to prove that he's better than the last time.

"I just think it's going to be a massive, massive fight and I'm very excited for it."

McKenna, who fights Waterford's Dylan Moran in his own rematch on Saturday's card, believes Crocker will have left no stone unturned preparing for the Windsor Park bout.

"I've been there on the same end where Lewis is where I've won a fight and a lot of people didn't think I did, and that really, really grinds your gears," added 'The Mighty Celt'.

"That really makes you work really, really hard, to prove everyone wrong, so I've been there myself and I know what he's going through, and there's nothing worse than people slating you about a win. I know he has trained his balls off for his fight.

"I also sparred Paddy Donovan over the years a lot, and I can tell you he's unbelievable. I've always thought this man's destined to be a world champion, he's unbelievable."

McKenna stopped Moran in the second round when the pair clashed in his opponent's native Waterford last December and he's expecting another early stoppage in his hometown on Saturday.

"I'm very excited about this fight," he stated. "I think it's the right fight for me, obviously I've beaten him before and I believe I'm going to do the exact same this time.

"I think it's going to be an early night where I'm gonna knock him out, so I'm excited to do it in front of my home fans this time."