Following a controversial disqualification defeat at the hands of Lewis Crocker in their March 1 title elimination bout in Belfast, Paddy Donovan is getting a share of justice in the form of an immediate rematch, which was ordered by the IBF Thursday following an appeal by Donovan’s co-manager, Keith Sullivan.

“I am extremely pleased with the IBF's decision to order a rematch based on the utterly inexplicable disqualification that violated the governing body's rules,” said Sullivan.

“Paddy didn't lose a minute of that fight. He was ahead on all three judges' cards, boxing a shutout and coasting to a knockout victory until that ref decided who he wanted to be the victor.”

In control of the welterweight bout from the start, Donovan was ahead 67-65, 69-63 and 69-63 on the judges’ scorecards, even after losing two points for use of the head. In the eighth round, Donovan landed two punches after the bell, flooring Crocker.

Referee Marcus McDonnell immediately disqualified Donovan, drawing outrage from the Donovan camp, as well as fans and pundits.

“I put a lot of effort into the appeal because Paddy deserved it, and quite frankly, both fighters deserved to have a proper winner determined by the rules of boxing, not by a referee's error,” said Sullivan, who immediately filed an appeal seeking an immediate rematch, not a reversal of the decision.

Today, the ruling by IBF President Daryl Peoples cited that due to McDonnell not being in an optimal position to intervene at the end of the round and Donovan being unable to hear the bell before throwing the final punches of the fight, negotiations for a rematch are to take place immediately, with the fight to be scheduled in the next 120 days.