A Paddy Donovan-Lewis Crocker trilogy fight moved closer after the former won his IBF world welterweight title eliminator against Ukrainian Karen Chukhadzhian in Germany.
The Limerick man won a majority decision after preforming well in the 12-round welterweight bout – putting his opponent down twice on the way to a 115-111, 114-112, 113-113 win on the scorecards.
Donovan now becomes the mandatory challenger for the winner of Crocker and his fight with Liam Paro.
Crocker's first IBF welterweight title defence will take place in Brisbane on 24 June against the Australian.
If he comes through that, calls for another fight with Donovan will gather pace.
Donovan caught the eye in Mannheim, a flush left putting the Ukrainian down in the sixth while he was awarded another knockdown in the eighth – although it looked like Chukhadzhian may have slipped.
