IN two weeks’ time, Liam Paro makes his welterweight debut against David Papot in Queensland, but despite superior experience at 147lbs and beyond, Papot does not expect to boast a physical advantage come fight night.
Paro, 26-1 (16 KOs), pulled off the upset to dethrone Subriel Matias and claim the IBF super-lightweight world title last June, but failed to make a defence of the belt and instead lost it to Richardson Hitchins six months later.
Since then, Paro has bounced back with an impressive beatdown of Jonathan Navarro in a 143.75lb catchweight bout that was stopped after five rounds, before the Aussie revealed his plans to move up to welterweight and possibly fight Manny Pacquiao.
Three months on and the 29-year-old southpaw is set to make his welterweight debut on home soil, tasked with undefeated Frenchman David Papot, 30-0-1 (5 KOs), who had been floating between super-welterweight and middleweight until last year.
However, in 2024, Papot made the switch to campaign as a welterweight, and he has since trumped both Jon Miguez and Josh Wagner to earn a WBO #6 and IBF #8 world ranking.
Against Paro, Papot will fight outside of France for the second time of his career, with his only other travel representing the lone blemish of his professional record – picked up via a draw with James McGirt in New York back in 2019.
Speaking exclusively to Boxing News, Papot spoke of his eagerness to compete amongst the sport’s elite.
“We’ll leave [for Australia] on September 7th and arrive on the 9th. I like challenges outside of France and it’s always exciting to compete against the best.
“Paro was a world champion at super-lightweight, so he is one of the best. Now, if I want to be one of the best, it’s up to me to do what’s necessary on September 18.
Yet, despite his successes in higher weight divisions, Papot dismissed any chances of size playing a key factor in his clash Down Under.
“If Paro moves up a weight-class it’s because he couldn’t make the weight anymore, so I don’t think there will be a big physical gap.”
Paro-Papot takes place on Thursday, September 18, at the Pat Rafter Arena in Tennyson, Queensland, where the welterweight headliner is supported by the likes of Liam Wilson, 16-3 (8 KOs), and Brock Jarvis, 23-2 (21 KOs), on the undercard.
