Belfast vs Brisbane - Lewis Crocker vs Liam Paro ordered by the IBF

Belfast vs Brisbane - Liam Paro ordered as mandatory challenger to Lewis Crocker's IBF world 140lbs title

Unbeaten Irish star Lewis Crocker (22-0, 11 KOs) is unlikely to put his IBF welterweight title on the line at Windsor Park after he was ordered to make a mandatory defence against Aussie Liam Paro (27-1, 16 KOs).

The Belfast boxer had been set for a voluntary defence at Windsor Park, with opponents such as Devin Haney, Conah Walker and Jack Catterall all considered, before the New Jersey-based governing body's decision to make Brisbane's Paro the mandatory challenger.

It will be 'The Croc's' maiden defence of the title he claimed after a split-decision win over rival 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 from Northern Ireland, who is unbeaten in 22 bouts, has not fought since that September win, and recently split from coach Billy Nelson.

Crocker's proposed defence to Paro will be his first fight 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 super-lightweight title in 2024, beating Puerto Rico's Subriel Matias by a unanimous decision to clinch the belt.

The Queensland southpaw was then beaten by American Richardson Hitchins six months later in his maiden title defence and sole career defeat.

Paro moved up to welterweight in 2025, where he has since earned wins over Jonathan Navarro and David Papot, who were 48-1-1 between them.