Lewis Crocker reflects on his first career defeat by Liam Paro in Brisbane, where all three judges scored it 115-113 in favor of the Australian, who became a two-weight champion. The Belfast man, now 29, lost his IBF welterweight title that he won last September at Windsor Park against Paddy Donovan, dropping to 22 wins with one loss.
"Shoulda, woulda, coulda," Crocker said of the fight, noting he felt he hurt Paro repeatedly and believed a point deduction could have changed the outcome. Despite the loss, his confidence remains unshaken, and he is focused on becoming a two-time world champion.
Crocker is not looking past his upcoming fight with Cooper, a 26-year-old contender he expects to pose a tough test. While a rematch at Windsor Park would be ideal, he is open to any opportunity across the four world titles currently available in the welterweight division, which now features stars like Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez, and Devin Haney.
His immediate priority remains Owen, but the door remains open for future title shots as he rebuilds his path to the top.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing