Newly crowned IBF world welterweight champion Lewis Crocker believes he now has the “bargaining chip” to move on to some huge fights.
The Belfast man defeated Paddy Donovan by way of a split decision at Windsor Park on Saturday, dropping his opponent in rounds three and five along the way.
It now leaves him in a healthy position, with his first defence most likely a voluntary against someone in the IBF’s top 15, which includes a number of domestic names in like Jack Catterall and Ekow Essuman.
Conor Benn, although not currently ranked, has been mentioned more than once since Saturday, but with a second fight against Chris Eubank Jr at middleweight to come in November, dropping back to the 147lb division may not be straightforward.
“I’ll fight Conor Benn anywhere,” Crocker told BBC Sport NI yesterday.
“It’s a huge fight domestically. He’s a big name and now I’m world champion I have that bargaining chip.”