- Both fighters weighed in at exactly 146.5lbs — no nonsense, dead level for the IBF eliminator
- Winner becomes mandatory challenger for the Crocker vs Paro winner Down Under
- SAP Arena Mannheim hosts the main event on DAZN tonight — Donovan looking to set up the Crocker trilogy he has been chasing all year
Both Men On The Number, No Drama
Right then. Paddy Donovan and Karen Chukhadzhian have stepped on the scales in Mannheim and both come in at 146.5lbs on the nose — bang on the welterweight limit with a bit of room to spare. Professional, no theatre, both lads taking this seriously.
That itself tells you something. Two contenders who both know exactly what is on the table. The IBF eliminator winner walks into mandatory position behind whoever survives Lewis Crocker versus Liam Paro in Australia. The losing man here goes back to square one. That is why they have come in light, sharp and on the number.
The Style Match-Up
This is a good little fight. Donovan is the bigger name on these shores — the Limerick boy has been on a tear at 147 since he climbed off the floor against Crocker in the disqualification fight last year. Chukhadzhian is a tough Ukrainian who has gone twelve hard rounds with Errol Spence's level of opposition and not been bullied. He is awkward, he is durable, and he is up for this.
Donovan is the better athlete and the cleaner puncher. Chukhadzhian is the better-conditioned twelve-round fighter. Make no mistake, this is the kind of fight that asks Donovan a proper question for the first time in a while.
The Crocker Carrot
Look, the elephant in the room is that Donovan wants the Crocker trilogy. He thinks he won the first one before being disqualified. He wants the chance to settle it with a belt on the line. The cleanest way for him to get it is to put Chukhadzhian away tonight, look brilliant, and let Crocker go and lose to Paro in Australia.
That is a lot of variables. The most important one is the one in front of him tonight. You do not get to chase trilogies if you cannot win an eliminator. Donovan has been around the game long enough to know exactly that.
The Pick
Donovan stops him late. I have it for him by stoppage in round ten or eleven, with Chukhadzhian making it nasty for the first six and Donovan figuring it out and breaking him down once the Ukrainian's legs go. If Chukhadzhian goes to the cards he has a real shot — but I think Donovan finds a clean shot in the back end and announces himself one more time before going for Crocker again.
Proper fight, proper stakes, and a Friday night well spent if you are in front of DAZN. The SAP Arena will be loud — there is a strong Irish following in Germany for Donovan and a Ukrainian contingent for Karen — and the winner walks straight into a world-title shot. If you know, you know.