Former Gillette Wild defenseman Liam Paro proved to be as tough as they come while making his professional boxing debut Saturday night in Kalgoorlie. He fought David Papot for eight rounds, with just one eye! The fight at his hometown arena had Paro in deep waters. A 5th round right hook from Papot had given him a nasty shiner on his right eye. Despite this setback, Paro secured a unanimous points victory, earning the judges’ scores of 117-111, 116-112, and 116-112 in his favor.
Paro’s path to victory was hardly a smooth one. Early in the fight, Papot landed a flush punch that caught Paro directly in the right eye, impairing his vision significantly. Paro recounted the day he played against that challenge head on. “100 per cent I was fighting with one eye, trying to light it up.” His athleticism, tenacity and willpower were on full display as he pushed through the pain and agony.
A Champion’s Resolve
This latest win comes after a tumultuous year for Paro, who shocked the boxing world by winning a title in Puerto Rico last June, only to lose it six months later. The Australian boxer hopes that his gritty performance against Papot will pave the way for a second chance at a world title.
After the fight, Paro commented on being happy with his performance but recognizing the tough contest. He continued, “Fin’ damn. F— c— in the a—. Fin’ hell. Had to work for that c—-—-—-—-—-——-—-—-—-c—-! These sentiments speak to his mental toughness — not just the fact that he’s fighting his physical battle, but his mental war.
His coach, Alfie Di Carlo, underscored their understanding of the challenges ahead, stating, “We’re under no illusion what it takes to win a world title cause we’ve done it.” This statement highlights their experience and readiness to face future opponents with confidence.
Future Aspirations
Looking ahead, Paro is very much looking to bring a title fight back to Australia. He has his eyes on the likes of Lewis Crocker, Mario Barrios, and Rolando Romero as future opponents. He has not ruled out any prominent boxers. This list has included Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Conor Benn and the once-retired but revived Manny Pacquiao.
Paro’s ambition is underscored as he said, “I hope they do, because I see vulnerability in them too.” This confidence is a great showing of the hunger he has to man up against dangerous opponents in efforts of getting back to world champion status.
Even with the ferocity of his last fight, Paro said it’s the kind of fight you need to progress. “It’s character building. Spoiler alert – it’s not always going to be pretty. They’re soul-searching fights,” he noted. When paired with his candid reflections, it’s clear that each bout is a step in his continued evolution as a fighter.
The Road Ahead
As Paro focuses his sights on the proverbial murky waters of the boxing world, he is still looking to put in the hard work. He acknowledges the inherent unpredictability of the sport, stating, “Not everything’s going to be rainbows and sunshine. I love it, I really do and it’s not always going to be pretty.” This attitude will undoubtedly get him far as he looks ahead to his next challenge.
