‘I’ll talk to Patty’: Aussie boxer in bright lights
Murray Wenzel |
Liam Paro admits he should have moved up to welterweight sooner as the Australian guns to become a two-division boxing world champion.
The Queenslander will headline an IBF world title eliminator against unbeaten French prospect David Papot at Brisbane’s Pat Rafter Arena next Thursday.
And he’s won support from fellow Queenslander Gorden Tallis, the former Brisbane NRL star joking he’ll pull some strings to rename the venue ‘Liam Paro Arena’ next week after the pair meet on Thursday.
Mackay talent Paro (26-1) will fight for the first time since confirming his move up from 63.5kg to 66.5kg, a weight rise that won’t force him to drastically cut in the days before the bout.
“I should have done it earlier, honestly. I’ve been on fire in the gym,” he said ahead of the first boxing event at the Brisbane tennis stadium.
“Leaps and bounds and ready to showcase and make my presence felt at 147 (pounds).
“100 per cent I can be a two-division world champion. I feel a lot better physically, mentally.
“But we’re both gunning for that one seat at the table, so it’s going to be fireworks.”
Paro dominated American Jonathan Navarro at catchweight in June, having previously captured the IBF super-lightweight world title in Puerto Rico in 2024 with a career-defining win against Subriel Matias.
Paro lost that belt in a close, split decision to the impressive Richardson Hitchins in his first defence late last year.
A move to Australian promoter No Limit has since delivered Paro the hometown fights he craved and won him heavyweight support in former Brisbane Broncos premiership star Tallis.
“The stadium’s named after Patty Rafter, we’ll just chang the name for the night to Liam Paro Arena, I’ll talk to Patty,” the former NRL firebrand said.
“This guy’s the real deal. He always goes to fight, I love it.
“Rugby league, I’ve got 16 teammates but the ring can be a lonely place. To get to the level of Liam … it should be admired.”
Paro was initially slated to face Lindolfo Delgado in a super-lightweight IBF title eliminator, but passed on the opportunity – and with it the prospect of an immediate Hitchins rematch – by opting to move up in weight.
Instead, he’ll now be chasing a title that is currently vacant after former unified welterweight champion Jaron Ennis recently moved up to 154 pounds.
The division also includes Manny Pacquiao and the high-profile Ryan Garcia, who are both on Paro’s hit list.
“The 63.5kg (super-lightweight division) is definitely out of our grasp now,” he said.
“It’s time to go up and everyone is going to see the reason why.
“I want the belts, I want to staple my name into the history books.”
AAP
