Lewis Crocker Appoints New Head Coach
Lewis Crocker, the reigning IBF welterweight champion, has officially appointed Huzaifah Iqbal as his new head coach, following his recent separation from Billy Nelson. Nelson disclosed the split last week in response to an inquiry on the social media platform X, noting that Crocker had “moved on to a coach in London”.
Coaching Background
Iqbal, who is based in Surrey, has experience coaching other notable fighters like Lisburn’s Kurt Walker and previously worked with Michael Conlan during Conlan’s time under Adam Booth.
Before joining forces with Nelson in early 2023, Crocker had a brief training stint with Booth. Under Nelson, Crocker enjoyed eight bouts, culminating in a momentous victory over Paddy Donovan to claim the world title at Windsor Park in Belfast last September.
Social Media Announcement
On Wednesday, the 29-year-old shared the news of his coaching transition on social media, stating,
“Happy to announce that I’ll now be training under ‘hboxinguk’ (Iqbal) – looking forward to the journey ahead, exciting times. I would like to thank Billy for everything; I’m grateful for the great nights we had. Fight news coming soon.”
Upcoming Title Defense
Crocker’s first title defense is anticipated to be announced shortly, with possible challengers including Jack Catterall and Conah Walker, whom Crocker faced in a thrilling fight back in June 2024. If he successfully defends his title, a mandatory bout is projected to follow. However, a third showdown with Donovan appears unlikely in the near future, particularly after Donovan has withdrawn from a scheduled eliminator against Liam Paro due to health reasons in mid-January.
