Australian boxer Liam Paro has suffered a major setback in his pursuit of the IBF welterweight world title after the defending champion, Lewis Crocker, reportedly injured his hand in training. The blockbuster bout, which was slated for early April under a No Limit Boxing promotion, is now expected to be postponed until at least May or June. Paro’s camp has reportedly expressed extreme frustration, with some members even questioning the legitimacy of the injury, though Matchroom Boxing has provided a formal medical certificate. 

The fight was highly anticipated after No Limit outbid Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom by a mere $27,000 to bring the title defense to Australia. Paro, who holds a 27-1 record, now finds himself in a state of "limbo" as he waits for a new date to be finalized. This delay disrupts his training camp and could potentially impact the scheduling of other major Australian boxing cards planned for the first half of 2026.