Also looking to get back into the ring is Liam Paro, the reigning IBF super lightweight champion. He’s long sought a rematch with Richardson Hitchins after their controversial December bout. Paro, of Caboolture, is intent on bringing that title back to Australia. To be super lightweight unified champion he hopes to win all of the super lightweight division’s major belts. His title shot against Jonathan Navarro will change the entire outcome. After all, it’s his first match on home soil—in nearly three years!
Paro’s journey to prominence in the boxing world took a major turn when he upset Subriel Matias in Puerto Rico, claiming the IBF title. In his next fight against Hitchins, Paro defended his title and was the subject of yet another controversial loss. In the process, he established himself as a top-four IBF contender. With this accomplishment, he now wants to get his fire back and start pursuing the WBC and WBO vaunted belts.
Homecoming and Future Aspirations
That fight against Navarro is going to be a pivotal time for Paro. Most importantly, it provides him the opportunity to prove his worth to a friendly home crowd. He scored his most recent win in Australia, knocking out Brock Jarvis in the opening round. This stellar performance had masses of NFL fans clamoring for more action.
I just never thought Kambosos was world class. That’s not unpatriotic. It’s easy to say, sitting from afar – I’m someone who knows what that level actually looks like. Paro explained, putting the final touches on his competitive analysis, which was critical to his success. Despite the buzz around potential bouts with Australian contender George Kambosos Jr., Paro has made it clear that he will not “chase ghosts.”
Paro’s ambition extends well beyond Navarro and Hitchins. He’s got his sights set on big-name opponents like Teofimo Lopez, Ryan Garcia, Rolando Romero and Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz. These hopes and dreams are evidence of his focus and intent to make his claim among the best in the super lightweight ranks.
Learning from Past Controversies
Paro looks back on his controversial defeat to Emanuel Navarrete two years ago. Today, he is all about taking the smart route in his boxing career. He knows that in order to climb higher, you have to learn from past mistakes and is dedicated to developing his craft even more.
“I copped heat for saying George would lose, but I stand by it,” he remarked, reinforcing his belief in his analysis of opponents. This belief drives the conviction in his In-N-Out prep as he readies to go to battle against Navarro.
As the lead-up to the grudge match draws near, Paro keeps his eyes firmly locked on his wish of one day becoming a multi-title holder. In the midst of that, he hopes to return his own spotlight within the boxing universe. In turn, this goal drives him to train incredibly hard and constantly work on his technique.
