Lewis Crocker has vowed Australia’s Liam Paro will have to almost kill him to claim the IBF welterweight world title when the pair collide in Brisbane next month.
The unbeaten Belfast fighter, who has earned a reputation as one of the division’s heavier hitters, delivered the fiery warning ahead of their June 24 showdown at Pat Rafter Arena.
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Crocker, 29, has repeatedly insisted he will be the naturally bigger and stronger man on fight night, while Paro maintains his world-level experience and superior skillset will prove decisive.
But the Northern Irishman says he is prepared to turn the bout into an all-out war.
“He’ll have to get me close to death to get me out of there,” Crocker said.
“It’s the biggest moment of my career – it’ll open many more doors.
“I’ll be very, very, very tough to beat.”
Should the Queenslander win, he will join an elite group of Aussie fighters to have captured world titles across multiple divisions – alongside legends such as Jeff Fenech, Anthony Mundine, Vic Darchinyan and Danny Green.
Paro would also become the first Australian-born boxer since Fenech to win recognised world titles in multiple weight classes across boxing’s four major sanctioning bodies.
The 30-year-old’s first world title came at super lightweight, where he stunned Subriel Matias to capture the IBF crown, but questions surrounding his size and power at welterweight continue to surface.
Crocker’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, believes the Irishman’s size and punching power will prove decisive.
“Crocker is a huge puncher,” Hearn told Fox Sports Australia.
“I think Liam at 147, that’s a real challenge for him.
“You saw in his last fight against David Papot, who’s not really a world-class fighter, Liam got marked up.”
“The Croc” also backed is own power to make the difference.
“I feel like I’m the bigger puncher,” he said.
“He’ll go in with more experience, in his mind and thinking he’s been in there with better opposition, but I don’t believe he’s been in with a fighter like myself.”
When asked how he sees the fight unfolding, the unbeaten Irishman made his intentions pretty clear.
“I believe in my punching power,” he said.
“If I catch anyone in the 147 division I can get them out of there…
“If I perform at my best I think it’ll be enough.”
But Paro insists Crocker’s aggression could play directly into his hands.
The southpaw expects the Belfast fighter to come forward and attempt to bully him physically – and says he is ready.
“I welcome it,” Paro told media earlier in the week.
“I’ll walk him onto punches all night long until he can’t take them anymore.
“But if he wants to box off the back foot, we’re ready for that as well.”
The welterweight division is currently stacked with star power, and a win for the undefeated Belfast fighter over the Australian would put him in line for massive bouts against some of boxing’s biggest names.
And the same applies for Paro.
“There’s so many big names now,” said Crocker.
“[Ryan] Garcia, [Devin] Haney, [Rolly] Romero – obviously [Conor] Benn now as well.
“They are all superstar names and that’s the sort of names I want to push for. The biggest fights possible…
“I’ve gotta get through Paro, but I want unification fights… the biggest fight possible, so [I’d like to fight] one of the champions.”
The title showdown will mark Crocker’s first fight outside the UK, but the Irishman says he has embraced the opportunity to compete in Australia.
“I’ve got a lot of friends in Australia,” he said.
“There’s a lot of Irish in Australia as well, so I’ve had plenty of messages since the fight was announced from people getting tickets.
“It’ll be great to get a good crowd.”
Crocker added: “There’s worse places to fight than Australia.
“It’s a beautiful country and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Spence Jr. vows all-out war with Tszyu | 13:36
No Limit Boxing boss George Rose believes the clash has all the ingredients to become a classic.
“This isn’t smoke and mirrors, isn’t a manufactured fight,” he stressed on Tuesday.
“These are two legitimate world level fighters risking everything.
“We won the purse bid because we believed this fight belonged in Australia and now Brisbane gets a world title event that will absolutely deliver.”
Discussion about this post