Still, it is good to be home as he embarks upon a route back to the top and while opportunities may present themselves in 2027, Crocker is not looking past the challenge of 26-year-old Cooper who will see this as his golden ticket.
“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 reasoned.
“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’s old foe Paddy Donovan is front of the queue to face Paro, while the welterweight division has come alive once again with some of the sport’s biggest names in Ryan Garcia [WBC], Teofimo Lopez [WBA] and Devin Haney [WBO] holding the other titles.
A second shot at a title at Windsor Park where he won his first against Donovan “would be great” but whomever and wherever, Crocker would be happy to take.
“There are four world titles out there, so any one of them [would be great],” he continued.
“[I plan to get] back on track and push towards it, but as I say, Owen’s my main focus right now.”
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