Liam Paro is readying to ink his name alongside Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech — while also catapulting into the mix for the likes of Ryan Garcia, Rolly Romero even Devin Haney — after finally having his latest world title blockbuster again signed off.
Almost two years after winning his first world title, Fox Sports Australia can confirm Paro will now throw down against IBF welterweight king Lewis Crocker for a second in Brisbane on Wednesday, June 24.
While the highly-anticipated bout has already been twice delayed, Paro is now finally back in camp and readying to earn gold in a new division – having upset Subriel Matias for the IBF super lightweight crown in 2024.
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The event doubles as the second time Paro has headlined Brisbane’s Pat Rafter Arena, and follows his tough decision win over Frenchman David Papot at the same venue last September.
Should the 30-year-old Queenslander be successful, he will join an elite list of Australian boxers to have won titles in multiple divisions — including Fenech, Anthony Mundine, Vic Darchinyan and Danny Green.
Paro will also become the first Australian-born fighter since Fenech to win gold in multiple divisions involving the four major organisations.
“And I’m ready to make Australian boxing history,” Paro said following Tuesday’s announcement.
“This is the kind of moment you dream about as a kid. To fight for another world title at home in Australia is massive.
“But there’s no easy road here.
“Crocker is undefeated and champion for a reason. And he’s coming in full of confidence.
“But I’ve built my career the hard way. I’ve travelled the world, fought in hostile environments and already beaten one of the most dangerous champions in boxing.
“I truly believe I’m levels above anyone he has faced and I can’t wait to make history on June 24 in Brisbane.”
The title headliner comes as another star of the division, WBC champ Ryan Garcia, has also spent the past few weeks talking up potential championship showdowns against either WBO king Devin Haney or WBA champ Rolly Romero.
A win over Crocker will also suddenly see Paro go into the mix for some of the sport’s biggest names.
No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose, meanwhile, described the bout as exactly the event Australian boxing had been demanding.
“This is a proper world title fight,” he said. “And between two guys in their prime who both believe they’re about to take over the division.
“You’ve got Liam Paro, who has already gone overseas and done what most fighters only talk about doing. He went into Puerto Rico against one of the most avoided fighters in world boxing and ripped the belt away from him.
“Then on the other side you’ve got Lewis Crocker — undefeated, world champion, massive support behind him in Ireland.
“And he’s coming here with absolutely zero fear about fighting Liam in Australia.
“This isn’t smoke and mirrors. This isn’t a manufactured fight.
“These are two legitimate world level fighters risking everything.
“We won the purse bid because we believed this fight belonged in Australia and now Brisbane gets a world title event that will absolutely deliver.”
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While Paro-Cocker was initially slated for early April, they bout had to be postponed after the Belfast champ suffered a hand injury in training.
There was also then a second unconfirmed delay, this time from the Australian’s side, which prevented the match up taking place on the same card as Nikita Tszyu’s most recent win over Spaniard Oscar Diaz.
But No Limit have now confirmed the fight is set for Brisbane in June.
While Crocker is defending champion, Paro will be looking to create history in his own state after Australian promoters No Limit won a purse bid for the event against Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing – and by just $27,000.
Initially, both promoters lodged private purse bids which were then unveiled during a February zoom call involving IBF executives and representatives of both camps.
The Rose boys had lodged a bid of $1.152M.
Hearn’s stable, meanwhile, offered $1.125M
“This is everything I’ve wanted,” Paro said earlier this year about the showdown with Crocker.
“I never got the chance as a world champion to defend a title on home soil, so to now fight for another world title in Australia is something special.
“I’ve already proven I can win a world title anywhere. Now it’s time to make history at home, follow in the footsteps of a legend like Jeff Fenech, and become a two-time world champion.
“No Limit Boxing went to work and delivered this. They backed me, they believed in me, and now we get to do this in front of Australian fans.”
Regardless, Crocker has already stressed several times that he is happy to travel Down Under and defend.
“I won my world title in Belfast,” the Irishman told Talk Sport earlier this year.
“I had my moment, so I will travel anywhere…
“But going to Australia and beating the ex-champion in his home country will be special.”
Recent history would also suggest Crocker also has no problem with Paro being a southpaw, having beaten another leftie, countryman Paddy Donovan, in his two previous outings.
“[And] I think Paddy Donovan is as good a fighter as Liam Paro,” he said.
“A lot bigger physically. The two back-to-back camps I trained for Donovan are going to help me massively in this fight – especially the southpaw stuff.
“I’ve seen Paro’s most recent fight [against David Papot] and he got hurt a few times against a guy with five knockouts.”
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