Donovan secured the IBF welterweight mandatory position after defeating Karen Chukhadzhian in Germany

Eddie Hearn believes a third fight between Paddy Donovan and Lewis Crocker has become too big for an undercard after Donovan defeated Karen Chukhadzhian in Germany to secure the IBF welterweight mandatory position. Hearn said Donovan’s Belfast rivalry with Crocker now belongs on a major event of its own.

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“It’s a bit big, that fight, to go on an undercard,” Hearn said to iFL TV after Donovan’s win. “That’s a fight that just did 19,000 at Belfast before. The winner of that fight is going to be looking for some kind of massive fight after that.

“But the great news with the IBF is Paddy’s got his shot. No one will take it away from him. And that was a massive win for him tonight.”

Hearn also defended Donovan’s performance after one judge scored the fight a draw despite Donovan dropping Chukhadzhian twice during the contest.

“I thought he won pretty comfortably with the knockdowns,” said Hearn. “I thought the draw was wild on the scorecards. I had him winning the fight 7-5 with two knockdowns personally.

“Even if you gave it 6-6, which I thought was generous, it’s still 114-112. It was a fantastic performance. World title ambitions were on the line, and it was a great performance.”

Hearn said that Donovan’s position as mandatory challenger now protects him regardless of when the title fight happens.

“Whether it comes in September, October, January, or February next year, you’ve got it,” Hearn said. “No one can take that away from Paddy Donovan.”