Eubank-Benn has implications for Crocker – Conlan

Lewis Crocker’s manager Jamie Conlan feels the outcome of Saturday’s middleweight rematch between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will have implications for the IBF welterweight champion.

Eubank won a gruelling first fight between the pair in April and they are set to do it all again at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend.

Crocker won the IBF world title with a split-decision win over Paddy Donovan in their own rematch at Belfast’s Windsor Park in September, and a first title defence against Benn has been floated as one of his main options.

However, should Benn suffer a second-straight loss, it would prove a major stumbling block for that match-up to take place next and Conlan says that while they will be keeping a close eye on events in London, there are other options including a possible unification with WBC champion Mario Barrios.

“Our plans are still to do Croc and Benn, but we have also had two or three other conversations including Mario Barrios for a unification,” Conlan told BBC Sport NI.

Conlan was speaking at Belfast’s Devenish Complex after a nine-fight card that was topped by Cookstown’s Teo Alin’s victory over Lee Gormley to capture the BUI Celtic super-featherweight champion.

Although Crocker is his team’s standard bearer, Conlan is keen to develop the next crop of prospects and has plans to promote an event that will see title opportunites for Belfast flyweight Conor Quinn, Tokyo Olympian Kurt Walker and Coleraine’s Matthew Boreland.

“We have had tentative talks with the Waterfront Hall for a Commonwealth title fight for Conor Quinn, and Kurt Walker in a Commonwealth silver, Matty Boreland in a Commonwealth silver,” he confirmed.