Lewis Croker: The IBF welterweight champion has been ordered to face Liam Barrow in a mandatory defence

Lewis Croker is unlikely to put his IBF welterweight title on the line at Windsor Park after he was ordered to make a mandatory defense of his belt against Liam Barrow.

The Belfast fighter was prepared for a voluntary defense in Windsor, with opponents such as Devin Haney, Conna Walker and Jack Catterall in mind, ahead of the governing body’s decision to make Barrow the mandatory challenger.

This will be Crocker’s first defense of the title he earned with a split decision win over Paddy Donovan in front of a fully packed crowd at Northern Ireland’s national football stadium in September.

Croker’s win over Donovan marked boxing’s return to Windsor Park for the first time since Carl Frampton’s win over Luke Jackson in August 2018, but Belfast’s SSE Arena is the favorite to host the defense now, with dates in April taking into consideration.

The 29-year-old, who is unbeaten in 22 professional bouts, has not fought since his victory in September and recently parted ways with trainer Billy Nelson.

Their encounter against Barrow will be their first under the leadership of new coach Huzaifa Iqbal.

Barrow, 29, was scheduled to face Donovan in the final for the mandatory spot for the IBF belt on January 16 in Brisbane, but the Limerick man has withdrawn due to illness.

The Australian will hold the IBF super lightweight title in 2024, defeating Puerto Rican Subriel Matías by unanimous decision to capture the belt.

He was then beaten by American Richardson Hitchens six months later in his only career defeat.

Barrow moved up to welterweight in 2025, where he has since notched victories over Jonathan Navarro and David Babbut.