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    Lewis Crocker could make his first title defence against British rival… and it’s not Conor Benn

    AnyFans Posted on

    By James Hicken

    Copyright independent

    Lewis Crocker could make his first title defence against British rival... and it’s not Conor Benn

    Harlem Eubank has been touted as the next opponent for newly crowned IBF welterweight champion Lewis Crocker.

    A source close to The Ring has stated that he is a real option for Crocker, who will be looking to make his first title defence after outpointing fellow Irishman Paddy Donovan earlier this month.

    Eubank is coming off a disappointing loss to Jack Catterall after a nasty cut above the eye of Eubank sent the fight to the judges’ scorecards after just seven rounds.

    There have been rumours that Eubank is looking to fight on the undercard of his cousin’s rematch with Conor Benn, and Regis Prograis is lined up as the opponent, according to Eddie Hearn. If he can make a winning return in November, Eubank will become available to challenge Crocker.

    Crocker beat Donovan in their rematch at Windsor Park on September 13, dropping his rival twice along the way.

    This came after the controversial disqualification in the first fight, where Donovan was judged to have floored Crocker after the bell.

    After the fight, Crocker’s attention immediately turned to his next fight, and he opted to call out Conor Benn.

    Crocker said: “I think a massive fight for the UK fans is Conor Benn. I have big respect for him, he is a great fighter and if me and him go at it, it would be a super entertaining fight for the fans.”

    Hearn said Benn was a genuine option for Crocker, as he intends to move back down to 147lbs to get a world title shot after facing Eubank Jr at middleweight.

    But in a recent interview, Benn said Crocker is not the champion he will be gunning for on his return to welterweight.

    Benn told The Ring: “I’ve only gone up to middleweight to smash up Eubank but my business will be at welterweight after that.

    “Crocker ain’t the target. Barrios is. His belt has got my name on it. The WBC world title is the belt I want.”

    Continuing the family legacy is more important to Benn as the green and gold is the same belt his father, Nigel Benn, won at super middleweight in 1992.

    But this has opened the door for a potential welterweight rival in Eubank to get a shot at the IBF title instead.

    BKFC 81 sees Olympic boxing champion James DeGale make his Bare Knuckle debut. Watch the fight and whole fight card live with a DAZN subscription.

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