WINDSOR Park played host to a dramatic night of action at the weekend, as Lewis Crocker upset the odds to defeat Paddy Donovan and claim the vacant IBF welterweight world title. Now, Crocker’s trainer is looking ahead to a clash with Conor Benn.
After a controversial victory via disqualification in their first fight, Lewis Crocker, 22-0 (11 KOs), headlined in his hometown of Belfast in a rematch with Paddy Donovan, 14-2 (11 KOs), but did so as a sizeable underdog.
Yet, ‘The Croc’ was able to score knockdowns in rounds three and five in a closer-fought encounter this time around, before the judges cast their verdict and crowned him as the new welterweight world champion with a surprise split-decision victory.
Speaking with Boxing News, Crocker’s trainer, Billy Nelson, admitted that the decision could have gone either way, but maintained the belief that his man had done enough to warrant the win.
“It was a very close fight, but I thought that we just nicked it. I thought we were good in the middle rounds and [scored] a couple of knockdowns as well, so I thought we just nicked it, very close though.”
Crocker was quick to call out fellow Matchroom fighter Conor Benn, 23-1 (14 KOs), after being crowned as champion, believing that his newly claimed world title could tempt Benn into a huge domestic dust-up.
Continuing with Boxing News, Nelson confidently declared that Crocker would stop Benn inside of the distance, if the fight were to be made.
“You’ll see a completely different fight against Conor Benn, as well, and he will knock him out.”
Benn is unranked in the IBF ratings at present, having not fought at 147lbs since April 2022 and currently being scheduled for a rematch with Chris Eubank Jr in the middleweight division this November.
Therefore, Benn would assumably need to return to the division with a win in early 2026 to tee up a welterweight world title challenge, if he is able to make the weight.
Instead, it appears as though Crocker’s first defence will be against the victor of Thursday’s IBF eliminator scrap between Liam Paro and David Papot, where the winner is likely to be mandated for a shot at the title.
