(May 12th) Rumblings from down under have IBF Welterweight World Champion Lewis Crocker will make the first defense of his title against mandatory challenger Liam Paro on Wednesday, June 24th, at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane, Australia. No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose secured the right to promote the contest after submitting the winning bid of $1.15 million at the IBF purse bid, a record-breaking figure that edged out rival promoter Matchroom Boxing and delivered a world title event to Queensland.

Lewis Crocker arrives in Brisbane with a perfect professional record of 22 wins from 22 contests and 11 stoppages. The 29-year-old Belfastman claimed the IBF welterweight crown across two defining nights against Paddy Donovan. In March 2025 at the SSE Arena in Belfast, an eighth-round contest ended in disqualification when Donovan, twice deducted points for persistent headbutting — floored Crocker after the bell. Crocker left nothing to chance in the rematch six months later at Windsor Park, putting Donovan down twice before taking the split decision and the vacant IBF welterweight title.

Now working under new trainer Huzaifah Iqbal, Crocker was originally targeting a late March or early April defense before sustaining hand ligament damage in training. Fully recovered and back in full preparation, he steps onto foreign soil for the first time in his professional career. Beyond the Donovan series, his world-level experience extends to a narrow ten-round points win over Conah Walker in June 2024 — a result that has only grown in stature since. Walker remains firmly in the picture, actively pursuing a rematch for world honors, while the wider 147-pound landscape has taken notice: WBO champion Devin Haney and former lightweight titlist Keyshawn Davis are among the stateside names who have publicly expressed interest in facing Crocker. A commanding performance in Brisbane will only sharpen that queue.

Liam Paro is among the most dangerous challengers in the welterweight division. Born in Mackay and now based in Brisbane, the southpaw brings a record of 27 wins and 1 defeat, 16 by stoppage and the pedigree of a former world champion. After nearly a decade at super-lightweight, Paro claimed the IBF 140-pound title in June 2024 with a road-warrior victory over then-champion Subriel Matias in Puerto Rico, one of the most hostile environments in boxing. He lost the belt to Richardson Hitchins six months later, but the defeat has not diminished his standing or his ambition. Since moving up to welterweight, Paro has looked rejuvenated. Last September he returned to Pat Rafter Arena — the very venue where he will now challenge for a world title, to grind out a hard-fought points victory over David Papot in an IBF title eliminator.

The historical stakes could scarcely be higher. Victory over Crocker would make Paro only the second Australian-born male fighter to hold world titles across two weight divisions, following the legendary Jeff Fenech, and the first Queenslander ever to accomplish the feat.

The path to June 24 has been prolonged and at times turbulent. The IBF issued its mandatory order directing Crocker to face Paro after a planned title eliminator between Paro and Paddy Donovan collapsed due to Donovan's illness. Crocker's team sought an alternative voluntary defense against Conah Walker in Belfast, but the IBF denied the request and enforced the mandatory obligation. The purse bid followed, with No Limit Boxing's record-breaking offer securing home advantage for the challenger. The original target of late March or early April was subsequently pushed back by three months after Crocker sustained hand ligament damage in training. Meanwhile, Donovan, whose record stands at 14-2 with 11 knockouts — fights Karen Chukhadzhian (26-3, 14 KOs) in an IBF final eliminator in Germany this week, with a potential future title shot the prize should he win.

June 2024: Paro upsets Subriel Matias in Puerto Rico by decision to claim the IBF super-lightweight title.

Late 2024: Paro loses IBF 140lb title to Richardson Hitchins; subsequently moves up to welterweight.

March 2025: Crocker defeats Donovan by DQ at SSE Arena, Belfast, Donovan disqualified in round 8.

September 2025: Crocker claims the vacant IBF welterweight title, outpointing Donovan by split decision at Windsor Park. Paro beats David Papot at Pat Rafter Arena in an IBF title eliminator.

Early 2026: IBF enforces mandatory defense; Crocker's hand injury delays the original late March/early April target by three months.

May 2026: No Limit Boxing wins purse bid with a record $1.15M. Fight confirmed for 24 June at Pat Rafter Arena, Brisbane.

Australian boxing is in a vibrant period, with No Limit Boxing leading the domestic scene, Matchroom increasing its presence in the region, and Tasman Fighters developing a steady stream of prospects across multiple divisions. A world title event of this quality at Pat Rafter Arena is the centerpiece of that momentum.

For Crocker, a convincing first defense, delivered abroad, against a motivated former world champion fighting in front of a home crowd would establish him as a genuine force at 147 pounds and accelerate conversations with the elite names circling the division. For Paro, it is a chance at redemption, legacy, and a second world championship on Australian soil. Two legitimate world-level fighters, everything to gain, everything to lose. Brisbane, June 24.

Venue: Pat Rafter Arena, Tennyson, Queensland, Australia

Promoter: Tren, geirge and Matt Rose - No Limit Boxing Promotions

Matchmaker: Trent Rose, Matt Rose

Media: Australia FOX, Australia Kayo Sports, Australia Main Event

Ticket and undercard information to be announced soon.

No Limit Boxing

No Limit was first established in 2013 with a number of promotions in regional NSW. Matt had a vision to make boxing a tier one sport in the country and always believed No Limit would become a boxing/sport powerhouse. Together with a great team No Limit has grown to be just that and is now recognised as the number one boxing promotions company in Australia.

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