 A further defence of both titles occurred in April 1988 when he returned to Gateshead to defeat challenger Lou Gent.Three more wins over journeymen opponents followed the Gent victory before, in June 1989, McCrory challenged Patrick Lumumba for the vacant IBF cruiserweight title, winning the belt via a unanimous points decision.He made one defence of the belt against Siza Makathini in October 1989 before losing it to American Jeff Lampkin in March 1990.