Paddy Donovan dominated Lewis Crocker in a raucous SSE Arena in Belfast but lost the fight after referee Howard Foster disqualified him for a punch that landed after the bell went at the end of the eighth round.
Donovan was in dazzling form, his nimble feet and fast hands were a puzzle Crocker could not solve and was comfortably ahead going into the eighth round of the IBF welterweight title eliminator.
But ultimately, he was his own worst enemy on the night.
The 'Real Deal' had already been docked two points for illegally using his head when he dropped Crocker with a left hook in the final minute of the eighth.
Crocker was back on his feet quickly, but Donovan let his hands go as he went for the kill. The bell had sounded when a right hook caught ‘Croc’ flush on the chin.
The late blow cost Donovan the fight. "I heard the bell and I dropped my hands," said Crocker.
Donovan's coach Andy Lee said McDonnell’s performance was "a disgrace" and his team has already called for a review of the decision and want a rematch in Dublin or Limerick.
"Marcus McDonnell’s performance was a disgrace," said Lee.
"Up there with the worst I’ve ever seen. Both guys were leaning in with their heads."
Eddie Hearn, the promoter of both fighters, wants to see a rematch.
"Paddy Donovan was controlling the fight," said Eddie Hearn "Paddy was sensational, but the shot was after the bell. Did it warrant an immediate disqualification?
"To be honest, I’d like to see it again. There’s going to be a lot of people who’ll want to see this fight again. The rematch of this fight is huge, but what will the IBF say? We’ll have to see how that plays out.
"Paddy Donovan made a mistake tonight that has cost him a shot at the world title."
Hearn suggested the rematch could "go outside" to an open air stadium in the summer but Crocker – now mandatory for the IBF welterweight title – may decide to sidestep the Limerick man – at least for now - and go after the belt.
Fighting broke out in a section of the crowd after the dramatic climax before stewards restored order.
In the chief support, Padraig McCrory rolled the dice at light-heavyweight but it didn’t pay off.
After a slow start, Craig Richards took control from the fifth round and dropped ‘The Hammer’ with a wicked bodyshot in the seventh. With the writing on the wall, McCrory’s corner threw the towel in.
On the undercard, Kurt Walker survived a late rally from Lyon Woodstock to win on points (one judge scored it a draw, the other two went for the Belfast man) and there was a dramatic comeback win for Steven Ward who stopped his fellow veteran Tommy McCarthy.
McCarthy was floored by a left hook in the last second of the end of the second round, but fought back gamely until Ward finally caught up with him early in the sixth.
Afterwards a disappointed McCarthy said he had decided to "hang them up" (gloves) and concentrate on his parallel career as a stand-up comedian. Meanwhile, Ward will hope to harness the momentum of this win and kick on.
"I felt good," said ‘The Quiet Man’.
"In two years I’ve done about six rounds, if even. But I’m older now and it’s about being smarter and having the right mentality. I really believed in myself tonight."
There was disappointment for Clonmel lightweight Shauna Browne.
Browne was desperate to impress, but she walked onto a thunderous left hand from Turkey’s Elif Nur Turhan inside a minute and that was that.
Earlier, Ruadhan Farrell won his rematch against Gerard Hughes. Their first meeting had finished drawn but ‘Rudy’ was the clear winner this time.
