Windsor Park unlikely as Crocker ordered to face Paro
Image source, InphoImage caption,
Lewis Crocker has won all 22 of his professional bouts
Lewis Crocker is unlikely to put his IBF welterweight title on the line at Windsor Park after he was ordered to make a mandatory defence of his belt against Liam Paro.
The Belfast fighter had been set for a voluntary defence at Windsor, with opponents such as Devin Haney, Conah Walker and Jack Catterall all considered, before the governing body's decision to make Paro the mandatory challenger.
It will be Crocker's first defence of the title he claimed after a split-decision win over Paddy Donovan in front of a sold-out crowd at Northern Ireland's national football stadium in September.
Crocker's victory over Donovan marked boxing's return to Windsor Park for the first time since Carl Frampton's victory over Luke Jackson in August 2018, but the SSE Arena in Belfast is the frontrunner to host the defence now, with dates in April being considered.
The 29-year-old, who is unbeaten in 22 professional bouts, has not fought since that September win and recently split from coach Billy Nelson.
His bout against Paro will be his first under new coach Huzaifah Iqbal.
Paro, 29, was due to fight Donovan in a final eliminator for the mandatory position for the IBF belt on 16 January in Brisbane, but the Limerick man pulled out through illness.
The Australian held the super IBF lightweight title in 2024, beating Puerto Rico's Subriel Matias by a unanimous decision to clinch the belt.
He was then beaten by American Richardson Hitchins six months later in his sole career defeat.
Paro moved up to welterweight in 2025, where he has since earned wins over Jonathan Navarro and David Papot.
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Murphy (right) has won all 15 of his pro bouts
Meanwhile, fellow Belfast boxer Colm Murphy will fight Jono Carroll for the IBO super featherweight title, which was vacated by Anthony Cacace.
The bout will take place on the undercard of James Dickens' WBA super-featherweight title defence against Cacace at Dublin's 3 Arena on Saturday, 14 March.
Murphy, 25, has won all of his 15 professional contests, with his last victory coming by unanimous decision over Luke Pearson in August 2025.
Dublin fighter Carroll recorded a 25th career win from 29 fights in his previous bout against Alexander Prado in March last year.
Before stepping up to super-featherweight to face Carroll, Murphy will take on Saleh Kassim for the vacant Commonwealth featherweight title in Newtownabbey on 31 January.
