Liam Paro’s career as a welterweight begins with the prospect of a fight with the IBF champion Lewis Crocker as a potential prize.
The Australian, at the Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane, fights France’s David Papot in an eliminator for the title so recently contested in Paddy Donovan-Crocker II.
Until he vacated it to move up to junior middleweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis was the IBF champion. His departure from the division redefined its landscape and presented opportunities Paro, who so recently moved up from junior welterweight, and others – including his promoters No Limit – will pursue.
After promoting his previous fight, June’s victory over David Navarro at 143lbs, No Limit offered the 29-year-old Paro a long-term contract while presenting to him a plan for him to fight up to four times a year.
The date with Navarro was his first in his home country for over three years. Victory over Papot could yet lead to him challenging Crocker – if it doesn’t, No Limit will continue to build him as an attraction in Australia and Paro will relish no longer living on the road.
“That’s what excited me most about this – it’s not just a phenomenal contract, it’s that I’m about to be home as well,” he told BoxingScene. “Build a household name here; become a superstar in my own country. I’m a proud Aussie. I did it abroad – I was a road warrior my whole career. Fighting overseas; earning respect. I get the opportunity to build a massive fanbase here – it’s very exciting. The calibre of fights that No Limit can bring – they’re tight knit with PBC. They’ve done that for Tim Tszyu, and they’re doing it for me now. I’ve got a title eliminator in my first proper fight at welterweight, which is unreal. It shows that they can do what everyone else can do, but they can do it here in Australia.
“I told them my dreams and aspirations and that’s to chase down another title. I had a taste of being world champion at 140 – now I want to do it again at 147. One fight at a time. I’ve got a tough test in Papot first to get through. [I want to become] a household pay-per-view star here in Australia, [and] two-time world champion.
“I was back and forth from McKay – a 10-hour drive away and 1,000km separating [previously me from my family]. I was living between there and [Brisbane] while I was in camp. When I was fighting overseas we were over in the States for 10-12 weeks – we pretty much did our whole camps overseas. Being back in Australia and on home soil, I’ve moved myself and my family [fiance Tyla and daughter Evie], full-time, to Brisbane, just to be around camp so I don’t have to be away. I’m the best when I’m around my family – that’s just how I am – when I’m comfortable and relaxed around them, it works for me. It eases my mind in between fighting – I can really wind down and switch off.
“[Previously] I was trying to see them as much as I could, but it’s too much – especially with No Limit promising me four fights a year. If I’m to take even three fights I’d be away a lot more. It just made sense to move down. We’ve got a beautiful, big house here and it feels like home already.
“It was just getting hard. There’s sacrifices you have to make – I’ve made sacrifices my whole career – living overseas, but having the comfort of having them around a lot more, we’re seeing big differences with it. You know what they say – a happy fighter’s a dangerous one.
“What No Limit offered me was unbelievable – especially in Australia. I couldn’t knock it back. I get to be home with my family a lot more, and become a superstar here – I can become a household name here in Australia, which means a lot to me. I’ve fought abroad a lot – to be able to do that means a lot.”
Asked about his evolution into a full-time welterweight, he responded: “We had a catchweight at 143lbs against Navarro. I felt phenomenal – I felt good. It was there that we realised that the 140lbs [limit] is a little bit out of grasp now – it was just getting too hard. I’m 29 years old; I’m maturing; getting stronger; filling into my ‘man body’. We knew it was coming. We were gonna give it ‘till April [before moving up] at 140lbs, but then we got offered this title eliminator – it pretty much gave us the opportunity to get to a title in the same amount of time, so it was a no-brainer for us. My body’s thanked me for it. I feel phenomenal. I feel really good. Now’s the time to make a statement and make my presence known at 147.
“I wanted to make a job before something bad happened in a fight – something that was very avoidable – because we’d tried to hold on for too long. It was time. I feel a lot healthier; a lot happier. I’m ready to make a mark here – this is my division for years to come.
“I’m feeling better all round. There’s no flat spots; there’s more stamina. I’m already a fit fighter. I’m filling out quick. I see my nutritionist a few weeks ago and he was surprised at how my body’s filled into this. [I’m] a lot less mentally drained, as well – it doesn’t feel like a weight-loss camp. I can relax and enjoy the process a lot more. We still have to cut, but it’s not that gruelling; [it doesn’t] make you question what the hell you’re doing.
“I believe I’m a lot stronger, and I’ve got an opportunity to prove that on Thursday night against David Papot. If I’m dominating an undefeated guy it’s gonna really certify my presence in this division. Any of the sparring partners will tell you – we’re definitely packing a bit more now. My body’s feeling good; I’m feeling healthy and better all round, and I’m excited.”
Paro, regardless of his plans and the appeal of a fight with Ireland’s Crocker, was keen to stress that he is not looking past the 34-year-old, undefeated Papot. If there exists one test of Paro’s physical maturity in him fighting for the first time at welterweight, another – perhaps more telling – test will be presented by Papot, who has previously fought at 160lbs and 154lbs.
“He’s doing something right – he hasn’t been beat yet,” said Paro. “You’ve got to respect an undefeated fighter. He’s crafty. He’s slippery. Saying that – no disrespect – I don’t think he’s fought at the same level I’m at or I’ve fought at. I think he’s fought fringe world-class. I know he’s going to be coming guns blazing – he’s going to come in prepared. This is his world title. This is also my world title at welterweight. We know what’s on the table – we’re fighting for that one seat at the title table. It’s do or die for both of us, so he’s going to come in prepared, we’re expecting that, and we’re coming in 110 per cent prepared also. I’m excited for this fight.
“He’s only had one outing out of France, and that was against [in 2019, James] McGirt a while ago and he drew. We’re going to have to wait and see how he travels. I’ve travelled my whole career – I’ve travelled well. I won a world title in Puerto Rico [against Subriel Matias]. Now I’ve got the comfort of fighting at home, and I feel good. I have my people here around me. We’re just going to have to see how he turns up. Some people struggle when they travel but we’ll see how he comes – I think he’s coming at 110 per cent. I’ve another hard task ahead of me but it makes me excited also.
“I’m sure [Crocker] sees me as a threat. I watched that fight closely, and I’m confident I can get the job done once my opportunity arises. But I’m not looking past David Papot. That’s the only guy on my mind now.”
