The echoes of a roaring crowd at Belfast`s Windsor Park had barely subsided when Lewis Crocker, still basking in the glow of his hard-fought IBF welterweight world title victory, found his name intertwined with a familiar, yet tantalizing, challenger: Conor Benn. In a sport where ambition often moves faster than the official schedules, Crocker`s trainer, Billy Nelson, has wasted no time in making a bold, unequivocal statement about their next desired conquest.
The Night Belfast Crowned Its Champion
Against the odds, ‘The Croc,’ now boasting a record of 22-0 (11 KOs), defied expectations. Many saw him as a significant underdog in his rematch against Paddy Donovan, 14-2 (11 KOs), but Crocker delivered a performance of grit and skill that captivated his hometown crowd. Scoring crucial knockdowns in the third and fifth rounds, he weathered a tough battle before the judges rendered a split decision that, to the delight of his supporters, crowned him the new welterweight world champion.
His trainer, Billy Nelson, a man known for his calm demeanor but unwavering belief, conceded it was a close affair.
“It was a very close fight, but I thought that we just nicked it,” Nelson stated. “I thought we were good in the middle rounds and scored a couple of knockdowns as well, so I thought we just nicked it, very close though.”
Such an honest assessment speaks volumes about the intensity of the contest and the narrow margins of victory at the elite level.
The Gauntlet Thrown: Crocker`s Trainer Eyes Benn
But in boxing, the moment of triumph is often quickly followed by the hungry gaze towards the next horizon. For Crocker, that horizon is undeniably Conor Benn. Immediately after his victory, the newly crowned champion made no secret of his desire to face the Matchroom fighter, believing his shiny new world title would be the ultimate lure for a significant domestic clash.
Nelson, never one to shy away from a bold statement when it comes to his fighters, took it a step further. When pressed on the potential Benn clash, his declaration was emphatic, leaving no room for ambiguity:
“You’ll see a completely different fight against Conor Benn, as well, and he will knock him out.”
A stark promise, delivered with the conviction of a trainer who knows his charge intimately and perhaps senses an opportunity for a career-defining moment.
Ambition Versus Reality: The Path Ahead
Such declarations, while electrifying for fans, often collide with the practical realities of professional boxing. Conor Benn, currently 23-1 (14 KOs), is not presently ranked in the IBF’s welterweight division, having last competed at 147lbs in April 2022. His immediate calendar is also occupied, with a scheduled rematch against Chris Eubank Jr. in the middleweight division this November. This means that for a Crocker-Benn welterweight title showdown to materialize, Benn would likely need to make a successful return to the division, perhaps in early 2026, and certainly prove he can still make the weight effectively. It’s a classic boxing conundrum: the allure of a mega-fight versus the arduous, often bureaucratic, path to making it happen.
Before the dream of a domestic blockbuster can fully take shape, a more immediate, and perhaps less glamorous, challenge looms for Crocker. His first mandatory defense is expected to be against the winner of Thursday’s IBF eliminator bout between Liam Paro and David Papot. This is the unyielding pathway of a world champion – defending the hard-won belt against the next legitimate contender, even as the glittering promises of future super-fights beckon from the distance.
What Lies Ahead for Belfast`s Newest Star
Lewis Crocker’s journey from underdog to world champion is a testament to perseverance and skill, injecting fresh excitement into the welterweight division. With a passionate trainer by his side, confidently predicting knockout victories over high-profile rivals, the stage is set for an electrifying tenure. Whether Conor Benn eventually answers the call or if other formidable contenders step up to challenge the new king, one thing is clear: Belfast has a new boxing hero, and his story, filled with ambition and the promise of thrilling encounters, is only just beginning.
