FORMER IBF super-lightweight world champion Liam Paro got back to winning ways in June, but the Australian southpaw has now u-turned on plans to reclaim the 140lb throne and instead revealed that he will move up to welterweight.
Paro, 26-1 (16 KOs), trumped Subriel Matias in an upset win in Puerto Rico 14 months ago to claim the IBF super-lightweight crown. He failed, however, to make a single defence of the belt, losing it to Richardson Hitchins last December.
The 29-year-old returned to the winners’ column when he halted Jonathan Navarro in a catchweight contest in Cairns just five weeks ago.
The Queensland contender was then ordered for an IBF final eliminator against undefeated Mexican Lindolfo Delgado, where the victor would become the mandatory challenger and get a shot at Hitchins.
Yet, speaking with Main Event on yesterday’s broadcast of the Masson-Parker card, Paro revealed that he has pulled out of the eliminator and moved up to the welterweight division, in an attempt to become a multi-division titlist.
“After 10 years in the sport, it is finally time to go up a division. I conquered the world at 140lbs, I’ve been doing it since I was 18 years old and at 29 now it is getting a little bit harder to make the weight.
“So, we have made the decision to go up and chase that title down at welterweight. I’ve said it before, two-time, but now why not two-time, two-division world champion and I am keen to get it done.”
In a wide-open scene at 147lbs, full of some of boxing’s biggest names, Paro opened up on his goal to bring Manny Pacquiao back to Australia, eight years on from the Filipino icon’s shocking 2017 defeat to Jeff Horn in Brisbane, where Paro currently resides.
“I want them [big names at 147lbs] all. Everyone knows that I want to fight, I want to fight everyone and the legend, my favourite fighter, Manny Pacquiao, is back in boxing and back at welterweight.
“So, get me in there, get me to win a belt and then bring him to Australia. I’m sure he wants to get one back on Suncorp [Stadium, where Pacquiao lost to Horn].”
Pacquiao remains intent on challenging for world honours and breaking his own record as boxing’s oldest ever welterweight world champion, meaning Paro will likely require a belt to his name if he is to persuade ‘Pac-Man’ to return Down Under.
Meanwhile, at super-lightweight, Keyshawn Davis may well take Liam Paro’s place in the IBF final eliminator, in what would be his first fight since losing the IBF lightweight world title on the scales in June.
