Liam Paro preparing to ‘fly the Australian flag’ back home

Liam Paro is relishing the prospect of a homecoming fight in Australia.

The IBF super-lightweight champion, 28, transformed his life and career when in June, as the significant underdog, he travelled to Puerto Rico to dethrone Subriel Matias.

At a time when his weight division was considered one of the world’s strongest – Matias was regarded as the most dangerous fighter in a division in which Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez, Josh Taylor, Jack Catterall and Regis Prograis are also prominent – Paro represented a peripheral figure, and yet it is on his vastly enhanced reputation that Matchroom and DAZN are leading their planned expansion into Australian territory.

On Wednesday, at the press conference to promote the fight on August 24 between Catterall and Prograis, Eddie Hearn – of Matchroom and the promoter of all three fighters – spoke of matching the winner with Paro in Australia next.

On Thursday, ahead of a likely date in November – Hearn also promotes Matias, and may yet again reunite with Haney – he revealed Paro’s home city of Brisbane and Sydney are the venues Matchroom are exploring, and also that Haney and Paro’s fellow Australian George Kambosos Jr are two further potential challengers.

With Kambosos Jr’s defeat in Perth by the great Vasiliy Lomachenko and Tim Tszyu’s, as a consequence of a significant cut, by Sebastian Fundora threatening to undermine the upwards trajectory of Australian boxing being supported by Jai Opetaia and Skye Nicolson, Paro can potentially become its figurehead – a year on from an Achilles tendon injury putting his career at risk.

“The idea’s bubbling around that we want to bring the fight to Australia, and hopefully we can get it done,” Paro told BoxingScene. “October, November maybe. Just depending. I’m ready to get back in the gym now. Quick turnaround; my body’s good; there’s no injuries. I want to stay busy. I’m a fighter. I fight. I want to keep busy. That’s the best way.

“We’ll start making a game plan, and see what’s floating around and what options are available, and what path we’re going to go down.

“I did have the fight against Brock Jarvis in Brisbane [in 2022]. I want to bring the big fights to Australia. I’m a proud Aussie. We deserve it – we’re diehard fighting fans. I want to bring the big fights there. Opponent-wise, not sure yet. We’ve got to talk about that, and I’m sure my team will come to the best deal and the best way.

“In enemy territory – that’s what makes [the Matias victory] that extra special. No one gave me a shot. We’re just proving to the world – me and my team knew what we were capable of, and we had a perfect game plan and executed it perfectly. I’m a proud Aussie, man, and to get that win and put us back on the map, it really sticks close to my heart for sure. I want to bring the big fights back there. 

“My messages have been flat out. Everyone’s sending me well wishes and congratulations. The likes of Tim Tszyu; [George] Kambosos; Anthony Mundine; Danny Green; Jeff Fenech. It’s a wide range of Aussie fighters that have reached out – even some cricketers and footie players. It’s pretty good. I’m getting a lot of exposure, and it’s good – it makes me proud to fly the Australian flag.”

Paro’s victory over Matias came shortly before the announcement of Catterall-Prograis, and shortly after Haney vacated the WBC title and Garcia, on account of testing positive for ostarine, was banned from fighting for a year.

“This was a huge win,” he continued. “It was massive – the magnitude of it. The way it panned out – going into enemy territory – was nuts. I’m still kind of pinching myself about it with how it all played out. It’s crazy. It really is. It’s the perfect way to win a world title, I believe. 

“It’s going good. I’ve been getting a lot of coverage. It’s been good from the people back home in Australia; it’s still sinking in, really. It’s unreal. I just can’t wait for the next big one, really. I want to be back in the gym, and ticking off the next names.”