Crocker defence set to take place in Australia

Lewis Crocker’s mandatory defence of his IBF welterweight world title against Liam Paro is set to take place in Australia.

Paro’s promoters, No Limit Boxing, won the purse bid and have announced the bout is to take place in his native Australia.

“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,” they posted on X.

“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.”

Brisbane or Australia’s famous Gold Coast are two possible locations for the fight, although there is also the possibility that Las Vegas in the United States could come into consideration for the bout.

Had Crocker’s promoters, Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom, won the bid, the contest would have taken place at the SSE Arena in Belfast on 18 April.

The 29-year-old has not fought since he beat Paddy Donovan in front of a sold-out Windsor Park crowd in September.

It will be Crocker’s first bout under new coach Huzaifah Iqbal after he split from Billy Nelson in January.

Paro was set to fight Donovan in a final title eliminator on 16 January in Brisbane, but the Irish fighter withdrew through injury.

A voluntary defence of Crocker’s title at Windsor Park had been on the cards before the governing body decided Paro, also 29, should be the mandatory challenger.

Paro held the super IBF lightweight title in June 2024 as he beat Puerto Rico’s Subriel Matias by a unanimous decision, but lost to American Richardson Hitchins six months later in his sole career defeat.

He stepped up to welterweight last year for wins against Jonathan Navarro and David Papot.