Blow for Lewis Crocker as IBF title defence against Liam Paro bound for Australia

Lewis Crocker has been dealt a setback with the news he will have to defend his IBF World Welterweight title against Liam Paro in Australia.

Limerick fighter Paddy Donovan was due to take on former world champion Paro in a bout Down Under which was to determine the mandatory challenger to Crocker.

However, Donovan withdrew due to injury, which led to the IBF installing Paro as the next opposition to the champion.

Crocker had been keen to stage a voluntary defence in Belfast or possibly secure a big pay day against a sizeable name in the division or a unification bout, before Donovan's withdrawal fast-tracked a mandatory fight.

Crocker and Paro's promoters could not agree a deal on staging the world title fight, leading to purse bids, which Paro’s team No Limit Boxing were successful in over Crocker’s Matchroom Boxing.

No Limit immediately set Paro's home country as their destination of choice.

As a result, the Belfast boxer must defend the belt in Australia or face being stripped.

Paro (29) will present a huge challenge to unbeaten Crocker.

He was world champion at light welterweight and boasts an impressive record of 27 victories from 28 fights, including claiming the IBF title against Subriel Matías in 2024.

His spell as a champion proved short-lived, losing to impressive American Richardson Hitchins, before opting to move up a weight division.

Paro is managed by Meath's Brian Peters, best known for working with Katie Taylor and Bernard Dunne.

In a statement, Paro’s promotional team said: "No Limit Boxing has secured promotional rights to Liam Paro's IBF world title challenge, successfully winning the official purse bid overnight to lock in a blockbuster world championship bout on Australian soil.

"As the mandatory to IBF champion Lewis Crocker, Paro will finally have the opportunity to fight for a world title in Australia, after previously defending his IBF crown overseas. Final dates, venue and event details will be announced shortly."

Crocker won the belt against Donovan in a fight for the vacant title which Belfast man won by split decision last September.

Paro is confident he can take the belt from Crocker: "This is everything I've wanted. I never got the chance as a world champion to defend a title on home soil, so to now fight for another world title in Australia is something special.

"I've already proven I can win a world title anywhere. Now it's time to make history at home and become a two-time world champion."

Crocker is fighting under new trainer Huzaifah Iqbal after he parting ways with Billy Nelson in January, despite Nelson helping him to win world honours.