LONDON, England — Harlem Eubank has emerged as a potential opponent for Lewis Crocker’s first world title defence.

Belfast’s ‘Croc’ won the IBF welterweight belt when he upset firm favourite Paddy Donovan at Windsor Park on a famous night in his home city earlier this month.

After winning their initial encounter via a controversial disqualification on March 1, when Donovan was adjudged to have dropped his opponent after the bell, Crocker floored his rival from Limerick twice en route to a split decision victory in the return.

Now attention has turned to when the 28-year-old might make the first defence of the belt with a number of potential opponents already suggested by his promoter Eddie Hearn.

The Matchroom boss has said that Conor Benn could be a possibility once the Essex-based welterweight has got past his middleweight rematch with Chris Eubank Jr in November.

However, during an interview with The Ring, Benn revealed that Crocker is not currently on his radar despite the potential shot at the IBF belt. Instead, he wants to secure a crack at WBC king Mario Barrios.

But now a different option on the Benn-Eubank axis could be in the running to face Crocker next in the form of Chris Jr’s cousin Harlem.

The 31-year-old is coming off the back of a disappointing technical decision defeat to Jack Catterall in July when an accidental clash of heads ended the fight after just seven rounds. His Sauerland promotional team are planning Eubank’s return with Regis Prograis understood to be their prime target while Jamel Herring has also claimed to have had an offer.

But now a source has suggested that the Brighton man (21-1, 9 KOs) could be the right fit for Crocker’s first defence whether it is in his very night fight or after a winning comeback.

However, the Eubank family do not have a great record in world title fights on the island of Ireland given that Chris Sr lost twice to Steve Collins in county Cork for the WBO super-middleweight title in 1995.