The pair were expected to meet in the latter's native Australia in early April, with the Belfast man making the first defence of his major strap.

Instead, they are now likely to meet in May or June after Crocker sustained a hand ligament injury during training for his trip down under.

It marks the second cancellation Paro has faced this year, with the ex-IBF light-welterweight champion previously set to face Paddy Donovan.

That bout, originally scheduled for January, was a final eliminator for Crocker's strap, which he earned against the latter last September.

Donovan, who was disqualified from his first clash with the Northern Irishman, came agonisingly close to taking the crown himself at Windsor Park.

His exit from the bout with Paro infuriated the latter's team, with the star reportedly unhappy about this latest postponement to his own title bid.

The star's promoters No Limit Boxing received a medical certificate from Crocker's Matchroom Boxing team, confirming the nature of the injury.

The pair had been expected to fight on the same bill, either in Brisbane or the Gold Coast, as local favourite Tim Tszyu as he plots his own return.

The latter is due to face Errol Spence Jr. in an intriguing clash later this year, and is widely thought to be eyeing an imminent tune-up on home soil.

Waiting game goes on for fuming Paro

DAZN News correspondent Andrew Steel

The wait goes on for Liam Paro then, as the Australian faces his second aborted bout in the space of four months, much to his irritation.

At least the star has not had to fly halfway around the world on either occasion yet, having been due to host both encounters on home turf.

Paro has made little secret of the fact he believes Paddy Donovan's exit from their IBF welterweight final eliminator was not purely black-and-white.

It will be curious to see how he reacts over the next few weeks now that champion Lewis Crocker will not make the journey any time soon too.

Might Paro get itchy feet and look elsewhere? It is highly unlikely he will find another title shot in the interim - meaning he has to sweat this out.

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