Lewis Crocker calls for Conor Benn battle

One of Ireland’s hottest prospects has called for a fight with Matchroom starlet Conor Benn [13(9)-0].

Belfast welter Lewis Crocker [7(6)-0] is keen for a fight with the English boxer, son of former two-weight champion Nigel.

The Sandy Row power puncher took to Twitter last night to suggest a fight with his fellow 21-year-old.

@ConorNigel where you at boi👀

— Lewis Crocker (@lewiscrocker1) September 8, 2018

Irish boxing fans have been suggesting such a fight for months but it is one which looks hugely unlikely.

The pair fall on either side of the promotional divide in the UK, with Benn being backed by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom while Crocker is under Frank Warren’s Queensberry.

Career-stage also looks to be an issue, with ‘The Croc’ only having had one six rounder while Benn remains an extremely raw fighter and one who looks set to be guided extremely carefully for the foreseeable future.

Nonetheless, it is encouraging to see Crocker call for such progression and he becomes the third Irish fighter to look for a clash with the high-profile Essex name after Jay Byrne and Keane McMahon.

Benn is currently #10 at welterweight with the WBA, courtesy of his points win over Frenchman Cedrick Peynaud during the Summer which saw him claim the WBA Continental ranings belt. This fight came following his controversial win over the same opponent last December on the Katie Taylor v Jessica McCaskill undercard where he was dropped twice in the opening round.

Crocker made the step up to six rounds last month at Windsor Park and was brought the distance for the first time versus the ultradurable Willie Warburton – although he did visibly hurt the Englishman a number of times.

The Ray Ginley-trained prospect is currently awaiting a new fight date as he, surprisingly, has not been added to the Belfast BoxNation bill at the Titanic Exhibition Centre on October 5th.