Lewis Crocker believed he had a few options.

None, however, turned out to be the one he’ll be forced to take.

“The IBF will order Lewis Crocker to begin negotiations with Liam Paro for a mandatory defense of the IBF welterweight title,” Daryl Peoples, president of the IBF said in a recent ruling. “Approximately 60 days prior to the mandatory due date, pursuant to Rule 5.C.”

According to the document, which was first obtained by journalist Dan Rafael, Crocker’s mandatory title defense date is March 13.

Northern Ireland’s Crocker (22-0, 11 KOs) had other plans. The 29-year-old Crocker, who won his 147-pound title with a split-decision win over Ireland’s Paddy Donovan on September 13 hoped to face Conah Walker.

Crocker won a close decision over Walker in June 2024.

With the pair having a bit of unfinished business, Crocker attempted to push England’s Walker (17-3-1, 8 KOs), who isn’t ranked in the IBF’s top 15, to the front of the line. His attempt, however, was denied.

“On January 2, 2026, IBF received a letter from [Matchroom] on behalf of champion Lewis Crocker to participate in an optional defense on April 18 or April 25 in Belfast,” Peoples stated. “The proposed April dates are thirty-six (36) and forty-three (43) days, respectively, past the champion’s March 13 mandatory due date.

“On January 7, 2026, the IBF received a letter from Matt Rose on behalf of Liam Paro opposing the granting of the exception. On January 7, the IBF Directors participated in a video conference to determine whether Mr. Crocker’s exception request should be granted or denied. The majority of the directors determined that Lewis Crocker’s exception should be denied.”

Australia’s Paro (27-1, 16 KOs) was set to participate in an IBF title eliminator against Donovan on January 16. But with Donovan (14-2, 11 KOs) pulling out due to an illness, the IBF moved Paro, who has the No. 2 spot in their rankings, to the mandatory position.

In the case of Crocker, Walker wasn’t the only fighter he was targeting. The newly crowned champion recently revealed to The Ring that he would love a unification fight against WBO titleholder Devin Haney (33-0, 15 KOs, 1 NC).

The pound-for-pound star grabbed his latest crown by beating Brian Norman Jr. on November 22 at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 27-year-old also hoped to unify with Crocker, but he has named the likes of Keyshawn Davis, Mario Barrios and Conor Benn as possible opponents.