Liam Paro is brimming with confidence in his quest to become a two-division titlist.
He is still at least two wins away before he claim that status, but the former IBF 140lbs beltholder has all but guaranteed that he will cut that in half by the end of this current fight week. Paro is set to take on France's David Papot in a bout to determine the next IBF welterweight contender.
Their scheduled 12-round contest will headline an Australia Main Event card from Rafter Arena in Tennyson, Queensland, Australia. The event takes place mere minutes from Paro's Brisbane hometown, though his visiting opponent has vowed to spoil the homecoming.
Naturally, the local favorite is prepared to shut down that threat.
“We’re both gunning for that one spot at the title table," Paro said during Thursday's final pre-fight press conference. "High stakes makes for a lot of excitement.
"I can’t wait. I love the confidence (of Papot). I hope he keeps that confidence after I crack him a few times.”
The winner of Thursday's all-southpaw main event will become the mandatory challenger to recently crowned IBF 147lbs titlist Lewis Crocker, who edged Paddy Donovan over the weekend to win the vacant belt.
Paro, 26-1 (16 KOs) opted to campaign at 147lbs in lieu of a second run at a junior welterweight title. He was in line to fight in an IBF 140lbs eliminator against Mexico's Lindolfo Delgado, but abandoned the process to instead move up in weight.
The decision came shortly after his 5th round stoppage win over Jonathan Navarro on June 25 in Cairns, Australia. The bout was his first after his 12-round, unanimous decision defeat to Richardson Hitchins last December 7 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The setback ended his brief IBF 140lbs title reign, which began six months earlier in an upset points win over Subriel Matias in Manati, P.R.
Paro's win over Navarro officially took place at welterweight, though both weighed under 144lbs. Still, the fight left Paro with the feeling that he could properly fill out at welterweight, as evident with his supreme physique at Wednesday's final pre-fight weigh-in.
The fight with Papot will mark Paro's eighth against an unbeaten opponent; five more have come against fighters with just one defeat.
Needless to say, Paro has been properly developed at the top level. He's long ago learned to never underestimate any opponent - particularly one who doesn't yet know what it's like to lose in the ring.
“He’s a crafty, slippery boxer," Paro said of the 34-year-old Frenchman. "He’s done something right, he’s undefeated, so you’ve got to respect that.
"Undefeated fighters are dangerous. But I’m going to be the one to piece the puzzle together. I respect him, but I can’t wait to get hands on this guy.”
