Lewis Crocker: The IBF world champion’s injury is ‘not very serious’, says Jimmy Conlan

Lewis Croker’s manager Jimmy Conlan says the IBF welterweight world champion’s hand injury is “not too serious” and the Belfast man is expected to make his first title defense against Liam Barrow in May.

While no date or location has been officially confirmed by Barrow’s promoter No Limits, early April has been rumored to be their preferred time to hold the fight on Australian soil.

However, Conlan’s side have served a medical notice with both Barrow and the IBF requesting additional time for the champion to recover from the injury, with May likely to stay in Townsville in Queensland.

Conlan confirmed to BBC Sport NI: “He (Croker) has a little pain in the ball of his foot, not too serious but it is tense and that has set him back for about four weeks.”

“We have just made sure that we have submitted (medical notice to FIFA) in enough time and given Infinity enough time to get an appointment that suits everyone.

“We have a tentative date that we’re working on, but until it’s official, we won’t really know.”

Crocker won the title by split decision over Paddy Donovan at Windsor Park in Belfast in September 2025 and his side were hoping to stage a defense against mandatory challenger Barrow in their home city.

However, with no agreement reached between the two parties, the matter was resolved through a purse offer with no bid limits to Croker’s Matchroom promoter of $27,000 (£20,000).

The 25,500-capacity Queensland Country Bank Stadium is understood to be the main contender to host the fight, and despite traveling to opposition territory, Conlan says it’s a “really exciting time” for his fighter.

“It’s going to be a back-to-back fight outdoors. He won the title at Windsor Park and now he’s doing it in Australia, in his opponent’s backyard against the toughest fighter you’ll ever be in the ring with, creating a great legacy and that’s what Lewis Crocker is aiming to do.”

“He’s become a world champion and now it’s about building that legacy, so he’s going to go out and beat Liam Barrow in great fashion, and then come back here (Belfast) for a huge fight at the end of the summer.”