Local news outlets in Australia overnight have reported IBF welterweight champion Lewis Crocker has sustained hand ligament damage during a recent training session, seeing their title fight postponed at least a month.

While Paro's team are furious with another untimely development impacting their man, Matchroom have already provided No Limit reps a medical certificate the injury is genuine before their mandatory title defense overseas.

"I won my world title in Belfast, had my moment so will travel anywhere. But going to Australia and beating the ex-champion in his home country will be special," Crocker told talkSPORT recently when previewing their matchup.

Now though, the new date will likely be sometime in May or June, depending on how quickly the Belfast beltholder can return to training under new head coach Huzaifah Iqbal.

Crocker (22-0, 11 KOs) won a then-vacant strap during his Paddy Donovan rematch in September, with the latter expected to face former IBF 140-pound champion Paro on January 16 for a chance at an unlikely trilogy against his compatriot.

Team Donovan opted to withdraw their man from the title eliminator after the 27-year-old fell ill over the festive period and hadn't trained, while Paro (27-1, 16 KOs) has kept himself busy and in training camp since October.

April 5 was the tentative date for their matchup, either in Brisbane or the Gold Coast, as part of a No Limit card topped by former WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu.

Instead, the wait continues for the Mackay southpaw, who outpointed David Papot in a grueling 12-round duel to announce himself at welterweight five days after Crocker's repeat victory.