Andy Lee insists that the upcoming all-Irish welterweight fight between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan is a much layered affair than the boxer vs. puncher matchup it's being portrayed as.

Lee trains his fellow Limerick man Donovan (14-0, 11 KOs), and thinks people are making a big mistake by labelling the heavy-handed Crocker (20-0, 11 KOs) as the bigger puncher of the two.

The Irish rivals will meet at Belfast’s S.S.E Arena on March 1st. DAZN will screen the attractive clash of styles, with the winner becoming mandatory challenger for Jaron Ennis’ IBF title.

Lee’s work with former two-time heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) and former WBO heavyweight titlist Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) has solidified his reputation as one of the sport’s best minds, reiterating to him what true power is.

The former WBO middleweight champion believes Donovan and Crocker are both more well-rounded than they're being given credit for but argues his man’s underrated punching power will prove to be an unexpected X-factor when the first bell rings.

“I would argue he's the bigger puncher out of the two of them,” Lee said at the fight’s launch press conference.

“I hold the pads for everybody. You know the fighters I work with. This man - pound for pound - is the biggest puncher out of the lot.

“I think Lewis has skill as well, but I think Paddy has a lot of power too.”

Lee himself was an extremely stiff punching southpaw who understood leverage and timing. He displayed those talents to dramatic effect back in 2014.

Firstly, he scored one of the most brutal knockouts of the year when snatching victory from the jaws of defeat with a picture perfect one-punch finish of John Jackson.

Six months later, Lee badly hurt the previously undefeated Matvey Korobov with another perfectly-timed counter right hook. An accurate follow up attack forced the referee to halt the action and earned Lee the vacant WBO middleweight title.

Lee kept his composure during those high-pressure moments and, given Crocker’s way of fighting in sudden heavy-handed bursts, he foresees Donovan having similar opportunities on March 1st.

“I’ve seen the fight playing out in my head loads of times. Lewis is not strictly a pressure fighter,” he said.

“He's a fighter who fights in bursts and spurts but is powerful and explosive when he does. I can see the fight playing out in my head. Paddy Donovan timing him whether it be to the body or head.

“I'm telling you, no one understands how powerful this man is when he punches. He's a phenomenal puncher. So we'll see. Listen, it's all well and good talking and hyping it but I know for a fact I'm not a s--- talker, I'm not a hyper. He'll do it.”