Lewis Crocker stunned Belfast and the boxing world at Windsor Park, upsetting Paddy Donovan to capture the vacant IBF welterweight title. The unbeaten hometown favorite, now dropped Donovan in rounds three and five before edging a split decision in a fight that was fiercely contested from start to finish.
Trainer Billy Nelson admitted the bout could have gone either way but felt Crocker’s knockdowns and strong middle rounds tipped the balance. “It was a very close fight, but I thought that we just nicked it,” Nelson said. “Very close though.”
Fresh from the victory, Crocker wasted no time in calling out fellow Matchroom fighter Conor Benn. Nelson doubled down on the challenge, boldly predicting that his fighter would not just win, but stop Benn inside the distance. “You’ll see a completely different fight against Conor Benn as well, and he will knock him out,” the trainer declared.
Benn, however, is currently unranked at welterweight, having last fought at 147 lbs in 2022. He is set for a November rematch with Chris Eubank Jr. at middleweight, and would need to return to the division in 2026 to position himself for a title shot.
For now, Crocker’s immediate future looks tied to the IBF’s eliminator between Liam Paro and David Papot. The winner is expected to be mandated as his first challenger, ensuring Crocker’s title reign will be tested early as he continues his rise from underdog to world champion.
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