With the Lewis Crocker vs Paddy Donovan rematch fast approaching, boxing fans want to know a bit more about the Windsor Park venue in Belfast.
As Northern Ireland’s biggest stadium, here is every thing you need to know about the Crocker vs Donovan 2 venue and it’s history of hosting historic boxing events.
What Is Windsor Park?
Irish welterweight contenders Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan are rolling it back for a second time this year, this time with one of the four world welterweight title belts on the line on Saturday night.
Their first fight back in march was marred in controversy, with Donovan disqualified for repeated use of the head and punching after the bell. This meant that Crocker was awarded the victory, despite being second best for the entire fight.
All boxing betting sites billed the first fight six months ago as a real 50/50 contest, but ‘Real Deal’ is the comprehensive favourite this time for the rematch given how the March fight played out.
The controversy has only added to the spectacle, with Crocker vs Donovan 2 now set to become the first all-Irish world title fight in history. Not only that, but the fight is taking place at Windsor Park this time – Northern Ireland’s biggest stadium.
But just what is the history behind this national venue, located right in the centre of Belfast?
Windsor Park, referred to as the Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park for sponsorship reasons, is an 18,500-capacity multi-purpose sports venue located in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland national football team play their home games at Windsor Park, as well as Linfield FC whose permanent residence is the south Belfast venue.
It is one of the most recognised venues in the country, hosting both domestic and international football on a regular basis all year round.
When Did Windsor Park Open?
Windsor Park has been around for over 120 years now. It first opened back in 1905, originally built as the venue and home of Linfield FC.
The south Belfast venue then began hosting the Northern Ireland football team in 1910, with gradual improvements and modernisation to the stadium in the years since.
The ground was redeveloped in 1996, but it wasn’t until a 2015 redevelopment that it achieved its current iteration, shape and capacity.
Now, Windsor Park is undoubtedly a state-of-the-art stadium fitting for huge events. This includes Saturday’s Lewis Crocker vs Paddy Donovan rematch for the IBF World Welterweight Title.
Has Windsor Park Ever Hosted A Boxing Event?
Saturday night’s fight between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan will in fact be the second major boxing event ever hosted at the iconic Windsor Park.
There have been some other boxing events held at Windsor Park over the years in one form or another stretching back over a century, but just one previous major fight card has taken place there in the past seventy years.
On 18th August 2018, Windsor Park played host to Carl Frampton’s homecoming bout against Luke Jackson, which ended up being the final fight ‘The Jackal’ ever had in his home city.
Frampton successfully defended his WBO Interim World Featherweight Title with a nineth-round TKO victory over Jackson, sending Windsor Park into raptures on what was an otherwise cold and wet Saturday night in Belfast.
A certain Tyson Fury was in action on the undercard, with Deontay Wilder present at ringside. Fury’s points win over Francesco Pianeta back in August 2018 was his final fight before a showdown with ‘The Bronze Bomber’ less than three months later for the WBC World Heavyweight Title.
There is no doubt that a packed stadium full of passionate Irish fans will have an effect on both fighters this weekend, which has been factored in when selecting our Lewis Crocker vs Paddy Donovan 2 betting tips for Saturday’s world title clash.
What Other Events Has Windsor Park Hosted?
As previously mentioned, Windsor Park is predominantly occupied as a football ground. It serves as the home of Linfield FC, who have been its tenants since it first opened its doors 120 years ago.
The land the stadium is on is owned by Linfield, with the Irish Football Association (IBA) actually owning the stadium itself.
Northern Ireland national football team play their home games at Windsor Park, but there has been other sports played at the iconic Belfast venue in the past too.
One game at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup was played at Windsor Park, as was the 2021 UEFA Super Cup between Chelsea and Villarreal.
There is no doubt that Windsor Park is a venue apt for this Crocker vs Donovan 2 super-fight. Lets just hope it doesn’t rain like last time when Belfast’s own Carl Frampton fought there seven years ago!
