Eddie Hearn says it would make ‘perfect sense’ for Lewis Crocker to make the first defence of his IBF welterweight title in a rematch with Conah Walker.

Crocker (22-0, 11 KOs) won the belt when he upset favourite Paddy Donovan with a split decision victory at Windsor Park, Belfast in September.

He is still yet to defend his new title and promoter Hearn has revealed that they are under time pressure to lock in a voluntary defence in the new year.

And now he has suggested that the most viable option at this point is Walker, who Crocker narrowly beat on points in their Fight of the Year contender in June 2024.

“If we can make the Devin Haney fight or a big fight with Keyshawn Davis or whoever it may be we will look at it,” Hearn told The Ring.

“But right now we’ve got to make a defence because time is running out. We could lock in that fight against Walker right now.

“Lewis needs to fight and if it’s not a big opportunity he will have a voluntary defence and I think Conah Walker would make perfect sense.”

Walker (17-3-1, 8 KOs), the 30-year-old from Wolverhampton, fired his way into world title contention by stopping the highly touted Pat McCormack in the 12th round of their Monte Carlo clash at the beginning of December.

Crocker and his team had been hoping to land a potential unification with Haney, the new WBO champion, but Hearn admits that it might not make economic sense without the financial input of Turki Alalshikh.

He added: “For me, Conah Walker has absolutely earned the right to fight for the world championship.

"The first fight between Conah Walker and Lewis Crocker was one of the fights of the year, it was a very close fight and obviously Lewis would have home advantage in Belfast and his confidence is sky high right now.

“Of course he also looks at the other fights, fights that would make him more money, but when we talk about a Devin Haney fight, unless Turki Alalshikh turns around and makes that fight, who is going to pay the money that those guys want and need for that fight? Because it doesn’t generate it.”