Lewis Crocker knows he is not the betting favorite for his first IBF welterweight title defense, but he believes the changes he has made in camp will show when he faces Liam Paro on Wednesday in Queensland.
Crocker won the vacant IBF belt by beating Paddy Donovan at Windsor Park in Belfast last September. His first defense now takes him to Australia after Paro’s team won the purse bid, setting up a difficult away assignment at Pat Rafter Arena.
“Liam Paro’s a great fighter,” Crocker said. “He’ll not want to let his fans down. I’m expecting a tough test.”
Paro has been promoted as “The Croc Hunter” ahead of the fight, a play on his Australian background and Crocker’s nickname, “The Croc.” Crocker laughed it off, saying several opponents have used the same angle during his 10 years as a professional.
The bigger change for Crocker is in his own corner. This will be his first fight with trainer Huzaifah “H” Iqbal after splitting from Billy Nelson following the Donovan win. Crocker says the move has pushed him out of a comfortable setup and into a sharper camp alongside fighters such as Kieran Molloy, Josh Kelly, Harlem Eubank and Kurt Walker.
“I’m looking forward to showing my new and improved self,” Crocker said. “I really pushed myself this camp.”
Eddie Hearn has said he wants Crocker to pull off a “smash and grab” in Australia and return home with the belt. Crocker says he is prepared for every situation, but the goal is simple: deliver the best performance of his career against Paro.
Image Credit: Fox Sports