Crocker set to defend world title at Windsor Park

Next spring, Lewis Crocker will voluntarily defend his IBF world welterweight title in Windsor Park.

In front of a sold-out crowd at Northern Ireland’s national football stadium in September, the Belfast fighter defeated Paddy Donovan by split decision to take the vacant belt.

The fight between Crocker and Donovan, a rematch of their March fight, which ended with Donovan’s disqualification, marked boxing’s first appearance in Windsor Park since Carl Frampton’s victory over Luke Jackson in August 2018, in a rematch of that fight.

A defense is anticipated for 11 April, with a choice of opponent set to be announced in the coming two weeks.

Crocker, who has won 22 professional fights, has been vocal about his desire to face Conor Benn, who triumphed over Chris Eubank Jr. in a dominant victory over their rematch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 15.

In a statement to BBC Sport NI prior to that fight, Crocker’s manager Jamie Conlan mentioned Mario Barrios and Benn as potential options for the 28-year-old.

However, Englishman Benn claimed that Boxing News Crocker is not on my radar really.