When on Wednesday evening Liam Paro confronts Jonathan Navarro, he will be fighting in Australia for the first time in almost three years.
Since then he has endured a WBC junior welterweight title fight with Regis Prograis eluding him, recorded – when stopping Montana Love – what then represented his biggest win, dethroned the dangerous Subriel Matias as the IBF champion, and sacrificed the same title via a split-decision defeat by Richardson Hitchins on the night of his first defense.
If he has fought only three times since stopping his fellow Australian Brock Jarvis in October 2022, he has not only since seen his career threatened, then transformed, and harmed once again; he has had considerable cause to gain further perspective.
His former promoters Matchroom had hoped to attract money from the state government of Queensland to match him with his compatriot George Kambosos Jnr in or near his home city of Brisbane. Richardson Hitchins was instead installed as his opponent in the neutral territory of San Juan, Puerto Rico and proceeded to end his reign as champion. Hitchins has also since made his first title defense against none other than Kambosos Jnr in New York, his home city – in turn almost leaving Paro with no choice but to return home to rebuild after a period to both reflect and regret.
“It was a bit [frustrating], because I was told I was going to get it – if I beat Matias,” the 29 year old told BoxingScene. “It was a big ‘If’ – I did so.
“It’s just the way it is, you know? You get upset about it for a few minutes and then you’re just on to business. Nothing else. That was it. The opportunity wasn’t there, so it was ‘fight, defend my title, and so be it.’ Back in Puerto Rico – it’s a beautiful place – against Hitchins, a very good fighter. It is what it is. It’s just the way the cookie crumbled. I’m a fighter, and I go by fighter’s fights. It doesn’t matter where; when; I’ll just fight. That’s just the way it was. But it’s exciting now to finally be back in front of my own people after years away.
“Hitchins was my mandatory, once I defeated Matias. It was sooner rather than later; there was no other big fights, big names, floating around so we thought, ‘Fuck, we may as well take on the mandatory, ‘cause it’s gonna happen’. It would have happened anyway. It was what it was. The fight was already there. Hitchins was already scheduled to fight over in Puerto Rico; the government funded it. It made sense on paper, to Matchroom. For me, no.
“But anyway, it is what it is – it’s just the way it was. I would have loved to defend my belt in Australia. Depending on how this one fight goes with No Limit, I have the opportunity to become a two-time world champion out of my home country. It’s just the way we’re attacking it now. But strictly one fight at a time; I’m not overlooking Jonathan Navarro, ‘cause he’s coming to fight and to try and steal my spot.”
Paro’s spot, until at least the conclusion of the contest at Cairns’ Convention Centre with Navarro, remains on the periphery of his competitive division’s leading fighters – Teofimo Lopez, Alberto Puello and Hitchins. It is also with No Limit – perhaps Australia’s leading promotional organization, with which he agreed a one-fight promotional contract at a time when Kambosos Jnr and Matchroom were also agreeing terms.
“I get the opportunity to fight in front of my people – Australia,” he explained. “I’ve wanted to have a big fight here for a while and they’ve given me the opportunity to have a fight here in north Queensland, my home state pretty much. It was a no-brainer.
“There wasn’t much planned with Matchroom, so it was a pretty easy one to pick, being back on home soil and in a big fight here. I just want to keep fighting; back in the corner for a world title at the end of this year, God willing everything goes well.
“If you watch the fight, the first four rounds, I was doing it pretty comfortable. You’ve gotta give kudos and respect to Hitchins. He changed up, and I just kind of fell asleep in the middle rounds, come home 11 and 12 a little stronger, but it was a little too far. That’s just the way it was.
“Unfortunately a bad night in our office is very visual to the public eye, and I can’t go and right my wrong the next day, so I just had to stew on it. But, look, the intention is we move on; we dust ourselves off; we go again; get another belt. Hitchins has already said in previous interviews that he believes he’ll see me in a unification in the future. That’s what we’re doing. Until I’ve got some more pulling power… I’ll avenge that loss eventually. I know I’m very definitely capable of doing so.
“In a perfect world you don’t want to lose, but this is all a part of it. It was just a long time; it was my first loss in a decade’s time. To taste that again was humbling. But at the same time now I’ve got more motivation than I did before that. Everything happens for a reason. I’m very lucky to have good people around me; the support of family and friends made it a lot easier.
“I was back training [quickly]. A little bit of time off over Christmas to enjoy a well-deserved break, and just ignited the fire – I’m ready. Life’s now given me the opportunity to show how to bounce back from adversity like the true champion I am.”
In defeating Puerto Rico’s Matias in June 2024, Paro defied the expectations of many. When he then lost to Hitchins six months later he presented those who had expected him to lose to Matias with cause to suggest that winning that night had flattered him, and yet one year on, and less than two weeks after Hitchins defeated Kambosos Jnr more convincingly than had Devin Haney and the great Vasiliy Lomachenko.
Hitchins’ success is perhaps again enhancing Paro’s stock.
“The domination,” he said. “I called it before – I said it was going to be a hard night for George, if not a shutout. ‘He won’t see the final bell’, and that’s the way it was. I know because I’ve been in there with Hitchins; I know what he’s capable of. He looked dominant; he didn’t respect George’s power one bit. He sat there and let him trade; with me, he was on the back foot a lot; he wouldn’t sit there and fight. Kudos to him. He looked good. He’s a good champion, and I hope to see him in the future.
Paro believes the ship has already sailed on an all-Australia showdown with Kambosos.
“I’m not too interested in fighting journeymen. I’m interested in chasing another title, and I believe that’s what he is at this stage of his career. It does nothing for me, and his ego – he won’t fight an Aussie. He won’t come back to fighting an Aussie of my caliber. He knows – the world knows – we definitely know that it’d be the same outcome. He wouldn’t hear the final bell.”
Which leaves him with only the 28-year-old Navarro.
“The fact that he knows what’s on the table for him – if he was to get the job done it’s gonna skyrocket his career immensely, and for me it’s to put me right back into title contention, which is where we want to be,” Paro said. “He poses a massive threat – every fighter does. They’re the ones stopping me from making my dream a reality.
“His Mexican background – he’s a warrior. His heritage; his warrior mindset and heart. The Mexicans come to fight. He doesn’t like to take too many steps back. He’s only had the one blemish like myself, so he’s definitely gonna come to fight. He comes from a fighting family. He’s going to be well prepared, and ready to fight.
“We’ve seen a few [weaknesses]. Don’t want to go into sharing too much – he’s a bit loopy, I’ll say that much, so [throwing punches] straight down the line’s going to get him, beat him to the punch. Fast, snappy boxing is the key to success and victory here, so we’ve got a good jab – I’ll just leave it with that much.
“It’s been strictly a one-fight deal. After that we’ll see what offers are out there and we’ll see what’s best for us. The plan for now is to put on a dominating performance against Navarro and cement my name back in title contention and show everyone I’m right back where I left off.”