Matthew Pover/MatchroomLewis Crocker will travel to Australia next week with the aim of returning with the IBF welterweight title around his waist.
The Irishman faces a tough challenge in Liam Paro at Pat Rafter Area on June 24.
Paro will have the crowd on his side, and the champion has admitted he is facing “the toughest test" of his career in Brisbane.
“I just feel great at the minute,” Crocker said. “I feel like I’m the bigger puncher. Obviously, he’ll go in with more experience in his mind as well and he’ll be thinking he’s been in better opposition as well. But I don’t believe that he’s been in with a fighter like myself.”
Paro will be hoping to emulate the biggest night of his career, when he travelled to Puerto Rico to dethrone Subriel Matias when challenging for the IBF 140lbs title as a significant underdog.
This time it is Crocker who is on the road.
"Look, I just believe I have all the skills to beat Paro,” said the Irishman. “He’s a great fighter, but I just believe now as the champion and stuff and the way things are going, that I’m just gonna get the win. I remember back when he fought Matias, I’d seen the build-up of the fight and I remember he was a big underdog and I was rooting for him. I was hoping he was getting the win, just to get the upset, and I remember waking up and seeing the result and there was like, fair play to him. Obviously I’ve seen him fight several times since then. He’s a great fighter and I’m expecting the toughest test of my career.”
Crocker claimed the title last September, dropping Paddy Donovan twice on his way to a decision victory in Belfast to improve to 22-0 (11 KOs). He then split from trainer Billy Nelson to train with Huzaifah Iqbal in the south of England.
“I know if I catch anyone in the 147 division, I believe I can get them out of there. I know if I catch anyone with the right shot that I can get them out of there,” Crocker, 29, added.
“You know, you’ll have to get me to the closest graveyard to get me out of there.
“It’s the biggest moment of my career going into this because that’d open many more doors for me as well. So I’m gonna be very, very, very tough to beat on the night.”
Paro is 30-years-old and the only blemish on his 27-1 (16 KOs) record is to Richardson Hitchins in 2024 in the fight after Matias. He has won two bouts since, defeating Jonathan Navarro in five and David Papot on points last September.
