BELFAST, Northern Ireland — Paddy Donovan accused Lewis Crocker of "taking a dive" in their controversial first fight and vowed to gain revenge by winning via legitimate knockout in the September rematch.

The two welterweights were brought together at Windsor Park on Monday to formally announce Crocker-Donovan II, which will take place at the 20,000-capacity stadium on Sept. 13 live on DAZN.

The clash will be a little over six months on from their initial encounter, when Donovan was disqualified for flooring Crocker after the bell to end the eighth of what was a 12-round final eliminator for the IBF welterweight title.

The man from Limerick had been comfortably ahead on all three cards at the time of the stoppage and was moved to tears after referee Marcus McDonnell decided to throw him out.

But after an appeal by Team Donovan, the IBF ordered an immediate rematch and, with Jaron Ennis relinquishing his title as he moves up to 154lb, the belt will now be on the line.

The stakes could not be higher for either boxer in what is the first world title fight between two Irishmen and they came face to face again at Monday’s public press conference. The rivals remained respectful throughout, but Donovan did suggest that Crocker had stayed down on purpose at Odyssey Arena.

The 26-year-old (14-1, 11 KOs), who was booed as he made his way to the stage, said: “You could ask Lewis, did he take a dive or did I knock him out after the bell? I’m not sure, but I think he took a dive to get me disqualified. I was winning every round and was in a comfortable position. That was the only way for Lewis to get the win was taking a dive.

“I’m looking forward to this fight and it couldn’t have turned out any better for me. After the controversy in the first fight, the IBF ruled in our favour to get this world title over the line. I just can’t wait to get in there and put on a show once again.

“Honestly I see myself winning this fight inside the distance. I’m ready to put on a demolition performance against Lewis and I think after the last fight the confidence I have has only grown.

“I’m going to become the IBF world champion in Belfast. I’ve beaten him once and I’ll do it again and take that belt back to Limerick. Irish boxing has a new superstar — Paddy ‘Real Deal’ [expletive] Donovan.”

But Crocker (21-0, 11 KOs) smiled back at the accusation and blamed Donovan for causing such a controversial ending.

He said: “He didn’t knock me out. I was in trouble at that stage and Paddy made a mistake that ultimately he paid for.

“I have to be better, but I’ve said from the start that Paddy is a great fighter. I have to put on the performance of my life to win on September 13 and there’s no better time or place to do that.

“If the stars ever aligned, imagine you’d said to me as a kid that I’d be fighting at Windsor Park in the first all-Irish world title fight and you’ll be an underdog. Nobody is expecting me to win. To pull off a win would be the stuff of dreams.

“It’s life-changing. I would love to be the man from Belfast to keep bringing big nights here. There is so much at stake.

“It doesn’t get any bigger than this. Considering the last fight, I agree with the decision to disqualify Paddy but I also agree that there should be a rematch. Nobody wanted the fight to end like that, including myself.

“There was no opponent in my mind other than Paddy and everything has worked out. We were fighting in an eliminator but now we’re fighting for a title. Windsor Park is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid.”