Craig Richards is soaking in the moment after a thoroughly deserved victory.

Padraig McCrory is putting on a brave face but he must be devastated. That'll be a tough one to take.

Image source, Getty Images

It's all over in the eighth!

Craig Richards stings Padraig McCrory with a big body shot. The Belfast man is forced on to his knee and his trainer Dee Walsh has seen enough!

The crowd don't like it but the fight was only going one way. Very impressive from Richards but a bitter defeat for McCrory on home soil.

Can Richards continue to build momentum?

McCrory comes out aggressively in the seventh but Richards comes back well and is hunting the Belfast man down.

Richards then lands with a big right and is looking really dangerous. McCrory is feeling it in there and is struggling to find purchase with his shots.

Serious pressure on the 36-year-old now.

Craig Richards sends a thundering right into Padraig McCrory's face and it's the Englishman who looks more likely to take advantage of that exciting end to the fifth.

Richards lands another couple of decent shots before the bell as the pair trade a sideways look.

Richards is boxing well here.

Woah! A dramatic ending to the fifth as both men land huge shots.

McCrory landed a smashing right but Richards connects with a serious right in response that sends the Belfast man stumbling back on to the ropes.

The bell goes and we have a fight!

Padraig McCrory can't quite make inroads in the fourth with Craig Richards doing well to keep the Belfast man largely at arm's length.

McCrory needs a moment of inspiration to ignite this home crowd.

Richards has landed 33 punches to McCrory's 19 through four rounds.

Craig Richards looks assertive after finding his range during the second and he lands a fine left hook quickly followed by a telling right.

Padraig McCrory takes the shots admirably but this is good work from Richards.

Richards targets the body towards the end of what was another impressive from the Englishman. He's controlling the fight so far.

Craig Richards showing some quick feet and is looking confident early doors.

Padraig McCrory off to a bit of a sluggish start with the Englishman very much on the front foot and landing some good jabs.

The fighters touch gloves at the end of the round. Not overly high on intensity so far.

Padraig McCrory only has one professional defeat - that, of course, came against Edgar Berlanga last year.

And a fairly cagey opening round here with both fighters easing their way into this featherweight contest.

Here we go!

Unsurprisingly hostile reception for Craig Richards.

That won't bother him one bit.

"Ohhhhh Poddy McCrory!"

The atmosphere is really picking up inside the SSE Arena.

It's time for the chief support as Belfast's Padraig McCrory takes on England's Craig Richards.

Should be a good one - and there's a great reaction as 36-year-old McCrory walks to the ring!

There was an emotional 10-bells tribute for John Cooney at the SSE Arena this evening.

Super-featherweight fighter Cooney, 28, died last month after his defeat by Welshman Nathan Howells at the Ulster Hall in Belfast.

It's nice to see him remembered tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Here's what's happened already this evening.

Lisburn featherweight Kurt Walker has just beaten England's Leon Woodstock over 10 rounds.

Before that, Steven Ward stopped fellow Belfast cruiserweight Tommy McCarthy in the sixth round.

There were also wins for Ruadhan Farrell, Elif Nur Turhan, Jack O'Neill and Aaron Bowen.

Image source, Getty Images

Hello!

Welcome to our live text offering from tonight's Belfast card, headlined by the hugely exciting all-Irish clash between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan.

Two unbeaten fighters, hoping for a big world title shot in the welterweight division, in a sold-out SSE Arena.

It could be something special later on and the atmosphere is building nicely.

Before that, however, we have another fight to bring you as Padraig McCrory takes on Craig Richard in a light-heavyweight contest.