BELFAST — Lewis Crocker is plotting his route back to the top after losing his IBF welterweight title to Liam Paro in June, with the Belfast man set to return against Owen Cooper on Dec. 19 at The O2 in Belfast. Crocker dropped a unanimous 115-113 decision on all three cards in Brisbane in his first defense, as Paro became a two-weight world champion and Crocker slipped to 22 wins and one loss after winning the title last September at Windsor Park against Paddy Donovan.
"I got beaten on a very close decision in a world title fight against a two-weight world champion," Crocker told BBC Sport NI. "I gained experience from it anyway, and at 29 I've still got plenty more for whatever opportunity is coming. I felt like I had him hurt a lot of times and he was holding, if he gets a point taken off then I win the fight. Shoulda, woulda, coulda... That was a long fight back, but I'm over it because I know I'm right there. My main focus now is going to be a two-time world champion."
The comeback begins on the undercard of the Anthony Cacace vs. Nick Ball world super-featherweight title clash, where the 29-year-old Crocker will face former English champion Owen Cooper (12-2). Promoted by Matchroom, Crocker will box on a Queensberry card in a sign the old promotional cold war in British boxing is over, and he promised fans a "Christmas Crocker" on home turf. Crocker said defending over 10,000 miles away on Australia's east coast was "something you'd dream of as a kid."
"It would have been great to have a first defence in Belfast, but ultimately it doesn't matter - there's still two men getting into the ring," Crocker said. "It's good to be back in Belfast anyway, and get on the road to two-time world champion. More than anything now, I want to be a two-time world champion and we've a great plan ahead but I'm not looking past Owen, because he's a great fighter and I'm expecting a really tough test."
Crocker said he is not looking past the 26-year-old Cooper, who will view the bout as a golden ticket, though the welterweight division offers clear paths back. His old foe Paddy Donovan is front of the queue to face Paro, while Ryan Garcia holds the WBC title, Teofimo Lopez holds the WBA title and Devin Haney holds the WBO title. "There are four world titles out there, so any one of them [would be great]," Crocker said. "[I plan to get] back on track and push towards it, but as I say, Owen's my main focus right now." A second title shot at Windsor Park "would be great," he added.