This masthead can reveal Paro will take on Lewis Crocker for the IBF welterweight crown in the first world-title fight on Brisbane soil since Jeff Horn upset Manny Pacquiao in their Suncorp Stadium epic in 2017.
After months of speculation and high-powered negotiations, the deal is done, with Paro to face defending champion Crocker on Wednesday, June 24 at Brisbane’s Pat Rafter Arena.
The iconic tennis venue hosted its first boxing event last September when Paro defeated David Papot and the ‘Prodigy’ is returning to Pat Rafter for his shot at history.
Fenech was the first male Australian boxer to win world titles in multiple divisions, claiming gold at bantamweight (1985), super bantamweight (1987) and featherweight (1988).
Now Paro can emulate Fenech 39 years later after his promoters No Limit outlaid $1.152 million, trumping Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom with a monster purse bid to bring another world-title fight to Brisbane.
“This is a huge moment for myself and Australian boxing,” Paro said.
“To have a world-title fight in Australia means the world to me.
“I want to be a star here in Australia and bring the biggest fights to Australia.
“Aussie boxers usually have to travel overseas for world-title fights but No Limit are showing they have the pulling power to bring these fights here.
“I feel pumped, I’m ready to go.”
The Mackay mauler famously shocked the boxing world in June 2024 when he sensationally upset Subriel Matias in his backyard in Puerto Rico to win the IBF world title at super lightweight.
Paro has since moved up one division to welterweight and is gunning for Belfast banger Crocker, who is unbeaten in 22 professional fights and will arrive Down Under next month armed with a dynamite left hand.
But after just one career loss in 28 fights, the 30-year-old Paro is confident he will outsmart Crocker to join Fenech in Australian boxing immortality.
“I believe I will beat him because I’m the better all-round boxer,” Paro said.
“Crocker has power but he hasn’t fought at the very top level, he has been on the fringe. He is slippery and undefeated but he will be out of his depth when he steps into the ring with me.
“When I’m on, no-one can really match me as Matias found out in Puerto Rico. I’m ready to take his undefeated record and his belt.”
Motivation is never far away for Paro. In 2015, Paro’s best mate, aspiring Cowboys NRL rookie Regan Grieve, tragically took his life. Paro carried his coffin and wears the initials ‘RG’ on his trunks, feeling Grieve’s spirit will again be with him when he steps into the ring to face Crocker.
Paro was 21 when he watched Horn conjure a massive boilover by beating Filipino legend Pacquiao in front if 51,000 fans on a glorious Sunday afternoon at Suncorp on July 2, 2017.
Now Australian sports fans will witness another history-making world-title fight at Pat Rafter Arena.
“This is massive for Australian boxing,” No Limit boss Matt Rose said.
“This will be the first world title fight in Brisbane since Jeff Horn beat Manny Pacquiao. It’s a significant fight and Australian sporting fans have to understand just how good Liam Paro is.
“If he wins this fight, he will become only our second two-division world champion and the first since Jeff Fenech.
“Lewis Crocker is a seriously dangerous opponent. It’s a world-title contest so these fights are never easy, Crocker has huge power in his left hand, but Liam is one of the smartest fighters in the world today.
“This is a huge coup for Australian boxing.”
Peter BadelChief Rugby League Writer