Newly crowned world champion boxer Lewis Crocker has been celebrated at a special reception hosted by Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly, in City Hall.

The event brought together coaches, volunteers, and young male and female boxers from clubs across the city to mark Crocker's historic victory in the IBF Welterweight division.

Crocker secured the title in September 2025 after defeating his rival, Paddy Donovan, in a sell-out bout at Windsor Park.

The Belfast athlete, who hails from Sandy Row, joined his manager, Jamie Conlan, and presenter Ruth Gorman to discuss his journey as a young fighter and how his life has changed since reaching the top. The pair also shared stories about his rise and took questions from the audience, which included young boxers from his former amateur clubs, Sandy Row and Holy Trinity Amateur Boxing Clubs. Lord Mayor Councillor Tracy Kelly praised Crocker's achievement, stating that his family "epitomise everything that's great about sport in our city – the hard work and selflessness of parents, volunteers and coaches".

She highlighted Crocker's role as a positive figure: "Lewis is such a positive role model, particularly for young boys living in working class communities where barriers to education, sport and wellbeing can still be a real issue. He shows that, if you work hard enough at something, you really can make your dreams come true."

Crocker expressed his gratitude for the recognition, saying it was "always special to be at events like this." He reflected on the effort required: "It's been a long journey to become world champion, a lot of sacrifices have been made to make it to this point, and I'm already starting to focus on what I need to do to make it to the next stage of my career." He called winning the world title in Windsor Park "a dream come true."