Liam Paro decisions Lewis Crocker to claim IBF welterweight title in Australia

Liam Paro picked up his second IBF belt, dethroning welterweight champion Lewis Crocker by unanimous decision at the Pat Rafter Arena in Tennyson, Australia.

Australia’s Paro, a previous titleholder at 140lbs, opened the door to some mouthwatering fights in the welterweight division with his win. The Australian had the advantage of fighting on home soil, and in the end it may have won him the contest. The bout was close, and often that sees the champion retain his title, but Paro, now 28-1 (16 KOs), was awarded the contest by a score of 115-113 on all three judges cards.

In the opener, Northern Ireland’s Crocker, 29, was looking to land his looping left hand that had brought him success in winning the then-vacant title against Paddy Donovan last year, but Paro was too alert and it whistled past his chin. Paro, 30, looked comfortable, flicking his southpaw jab into Crocker’s face before planting home a left hand.

Crocker started to find his feet in the second, he landed a hard right that bloodied the nose of Paro, but the Australian returned with a straight left. Crocker was aggressive in the third, pushing Paro back and clubbing him with his right hand to the head and body. Paro had success too, but his shots didn’t seem to be bothering the travelling beltholder from Belfast.

Paro returned to his boxing in the fourth, but started to sit on his shots at the start of the fifth session. The Australian landed a left downstairs, followed by a left uppercut that wobbled Crocker for a moment. The fight was heading the Australian’s way, it seemed, but Crocker landed the shot of the fight, a right hand, that sent Paro stumbling into the ropes.

Crocker was spurred on by his success late in the round, and pressed Paro early into the sixth. Paro looked to be struggling with the power and intensity of Crocker’s work, and was stunned by another right hand from the Irishman. Paro was landing more in the seventh and eighth sessions, but Crocker was still finding success, and when he landed, he did so with spite.

The champion continued to press aggressively in the ninth, probably unsure how the judges would view things on away soil. Paro was now more comfortable with the Irishman's power, and finding room for his own shots while Crocker missed wildly.

Crocker made a late push in the championship rounds and Paro was on his bike. The underdog, however, finally caught the challenger midway through Round 11. Paro was struggling to get off the ropes and Crocker took full advantage, landing a left to the body, followed by a left to the head, and finished with a right hand.

He could sense Paro was hurt and pushed forwards with everything he had, a right hand to the back of the head allowed the Australian time to recover, but Crocker finished the round hurling with abandon.

Crocker started the 12th and final session as he ended the last and Paro was already attempting to hold on. Crocker had Paro rocked again from a right hand and opened up a nasty gash over his left eye. Paro was in a bad way but was given time to recover again when the doctor was called to look at his cut. Crocker then got back to swinging away at Paro when the referee ushered proceedings on, landing a hard right hand before the bell ended the session and the contest.

Crocker was lifted into the air by his team as he returned to the corner, but it wasn’t to be. Crocker, now 22-1 (11 KOs), looked deflated as Paro was awarded the decision by the finest of margins, but was full of respect for his opponent after the contest, admitting it was a close fight.