Although that option is viable, it is much more likely Crocker will either face Benn or enjoy another big night in Belfast for a first voluntary defence.
However, much will depend on the outcome of November’s middleweight rematch between Benn and Chris Eubank Jr in terms of when Benn could be ready to return to the ring and drop back to welterweight.
The updated IBF rankings have former light-welterweight champion Liam Paro in the number two position with Donovan, who is understood to be appealing September’s decision at Windsor Park, in third.
A successful outcome for Donovan would most likely see him retain his high ranking and secure a final eliminator against Paro for the mandatory slot.
“Benn is the fight Crocker wants and he is confident he will beat him,” Conlan confirmed.
“That’s all well and good and the numbers are exciting, but you are putting Lewis’ livelihood on hold in hope of what will happen in another fight [Eubank-Benn II] and it doesn’t work like that, so get something booked for Belfast and most likely that’s what will happen next. If they [Matchroom] control the situation with the mandatory, then it can be pushed off and we can do Benn [after a first voluntary].
“There are still a few moving parts to happen, but I think Paro will fight Donovan or Karen Chukhadzhian next.
“Donovan’s team have appealed so his ranking hasn’t moved. That could be good news for ‘Croc’ as his mandatory will be kept on the long finger if Paro is out in the early part of next year. That could give us the opportunity of two voluntaries before we have a mandatory.”
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Grace Chambers, 97, has become Europe’s oldest parkrunner to reach the 250 run milestone
Grace Chambers, aged 97, has become Europe’s oldest Parkrunner to reach the 250 run milestone.
She has just completed the 5k run at Ormeau Park in south Belfast.
Grace had heart surgery four weeks ago but that didn’t stop her taking part in the run on Saturday.
On completing the run Grace said she was “over the moon” to have finished.
“I feel glad I’ve done it as there was always a possibility that I wouldn’t but I never look negatively at things, if I set a goal I try to achieve it and if I don’t do it the first time I try it again and again and again,” she said.
Grace was on the start line with her daughter Shireen and friend Cathy
For many people, never mind an 88-year-old recovering from serious, invasive surgery, running is not top of the to-do list.
But Grace’s Parkrun journey began when a staff member on her rehabilitation team, who volunteered at Ormeau Parkrun, suggested she might enjoy coming along.
With a bit of encouragement from one of her daughters, Grace went to do her first Parkrun in 2016 and said she became the talk of the event.
“Everyone kept saying: ‘This woman in her 80s has turned up thinking she can do a parkrun.’ Well I certainly showed them,” she said, laughing.
Ormeau Parkrun
Grace and her friend Sue sitting on ‘Grace’s Bench’ which marks the finish line at Ormeau Parkrun
Grace became a regular at the community event and broke numerous records for runners in her age category in her first year.
“I just love it, all the people you meet, it’s just wonderful – people from all over Northern Ireland come and mix at Parkrun and you wouldn’t have had people from all the communities mixing like that when I was growing up,” she said.
The former teacher, who professed a love of mountain hiking and golf, said not even the suspension of Parkruns in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic slowed her down.
“I just went down and did it myself anyway,” she said.
Grace recorded all of her times and got her daughter to send them all to Parkrun afterwards.
Ormeau Parkrun
Grace said it’s the friends she made at Parkrun, like Cathy, who keep her going
“I’ve probably done a lot more than 250 Parkruns, but the ones during Covid don’t count,” she added.
Not even a broken leg, suffered while out walking during the pandemic, stopped her, as she bounced straight back to Parkruns after recovering.
She’s now assisted around the course by her two friends Cathy and Sue.
“I wouldn’t be here without them, they take me to the run each week and go round with me.”
A ‘local legend’ cheered on by Olympians
Ormeau Parkrun
Grace said Dame Kelly Holmes wanted to chat but she had to tell her to hurry up so they would get a good time
Grace now has a bench named after her on the finish line with a a plaque that says “Grace’s Bench, Park runner extraordinaire”.
On a typical week, you’ll find Grace sitting on it after the run posing for photos with her fans.
Lots of people have come to visit Grace over the years including the Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes, who ran alongside her.
“Kelly wanted to talk as we were going round the course so I had to say, come on Kelly, you’re holding me back.”
Grace’s preparations for her 250th run hit a snag when she had a heart surgery four weeks ago, but she only missed one week during her recovery.
Dr Jonny Mailey, who performed keyhole heart surgery on Grace four weeks ago celebrated with Grace at the finish line
Grace’s preparations for her 250th run hit a snag when she had a heart surgery four weeks ago, but she only missed one week during her recovery.
“I told the surgeon I was going to test out his work, I’ve got a new valve, why would I not use it,” she said.
Dr Jonny Mailey, from the cardiology unit at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital, performed the keyhole valve replacement on Grace in July and came along to support her run.
“She’s fantastic and what she has achieved is unbelievable,” he said.
“It really is testament to her as a person.”
Deirdre McConvey, one of the volunteer run directors at Ormeau Parkrun, said Grace has “become a local legend”.
Volunteer run director Deirdre McConvey said Grace was a “local legend” and people queue for selfies
“We’ve had visitors come specially to meet her, nobody smiles broader than Grace.
“Her warmth and friendliness has endeared her to all the regulars who love to cheer her over the finish line, especially on her birthday.
“Her grit and determination are definitely inspiring and sometimes quite humbling.”
Belfast South MP Claire Hanna is also a regular Parkrunner and cheered Grace on.
“Congratulations to the inimitable Grace,” she said.
“What an inspiration she is to so many.”
However, Grace doesn’t really understand the fuss over her Parkrun record.
“So what!” she said.
“Many people do much more remarkable things than this, but if it inspires some people to start running then that’s great.
“I just hope I get a good time on Saturday with everyone watching me.”
NEW Laws and new tech – meaning the Club World Cup will look unlike any football tournament we’ve seen before.
Fifa has decided to bring in all the Law tweaks agreed at the International FA Board meeting in Belfast in February for their new flagship.
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta’s name is on one adjustmentCredit: Alamy
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This impressive trophy will be up for grabs in the USACredit: Getty
That means the “five second countdown”, with referees raising their hand to tell goalkeepers to release the ball or see a corner awarded to the opposing team.
The latest live trials, in South America’s Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, saw just TWO incidents where the glovemen exceeded the maximum eight seconds with the ball “under control”.
Fifa will also enforce the “captain’s only” rule for talking to referees, with yellow cards for any players who offend.
The so-called “Arteta rule”, meaning no further punishment other than an indirect free-kick if coaches or substitutes accidentally touch the ball before it goes out of play, will also be invoked for the first time.
As will a new penalty rule, where “double touches” – players unintentionally hitting the ball against their own foot or leg – will bring a retake if the spot kick is converted, rather than being disallowed.
But just as eye-opening will be the technology applied for the first time in competitive play, as Fifa pushes new barriers.
The biggest will be using the latest, AI-aided semi-automated offside technology, where a signal will automatically go to the assist referee when a player breaking the defensive line and more than just four INCHES offside plays the ball.
Rugby fans have become used to “ref cams”, attached to the official’s chest and giving an intimate view of scrums.
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You can watch every CWC game for free if you sign up for DAZN
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Whistlers will get their own bodycamsCredit: Getty
But Ifab approved football to go down the same path, with the cameras at eye level, attached to the referee’s VAR communication device.
While “live” shots will not be broadcast during play, they will be available to give fans, both at home and in stadiums, the chance to see goals and other incidents from the ref’s perspective.
Bayern Munich leave in new kit for Club World Cup
Conversations between refs and VARs can still only be broadcast after a match has finished but supporters inside the grounds will be able to view the images for pitchside monitor reviews at the same time as the officials themselves.
And there will be no excuses for messed-up substitutions, with coaching teams handed a tablet to input player changes directly, rather than having to hand written notes to the fourth official.
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VAR is one of the ‘older’ forms of technology at the CWCCredit: Alamy
