Australia’s Liam Paro put his defeat by Richardson Hitchins behind him when he stopped Jonathan Navarro in five rounds.
The 29-year-old former IBF junior-welterweight champion dropped Navarro in the fifth round and then applied increased pressure until the bell went, forcing Navarro’s corner to intervene to rescue him from further punishment.
Paro recorded one of the finest victories of 2024 when he dethroned the Puerto Rican Subriel Matias as the IBF 140lbs champion, but he ended it on the disappointing note of losing his title to Hitchins in December.
He responded by agreeing a one-fight deal with Australian promotional organisation No Limit, and was matched with the 28-year-old Navarro at 143lbs at the Convention Centre in Cairns in what represented his first fight in his home country for almost three years.
Paro started with intent and by prioritising his jab, and he was soon rewarded when, in the opening round, he landed a punch to the body and when Navarro walked on to a left hand. When Navarro responded with a left hook, Paro punished him with a straight right; Navarro also ended the round with a heavily-bleeding cut to the head.
Further body work followed from Paro in the second, as did a lead left and a right hook. After another left hand Navarro attempted to move into range but was frustrated by Paro both ducking and moving away from danger. In a further sign of the Australian’s growing dominance he then backed Navarro into a corner with another left hand before again succeeding to the body; Navarro, in turn, resorted to throwing from a clinch.
A strong right hook caught Navarro at the start of the third; when Navarro then landed a left hand of his own, Paro responded with a left-right. Another strong right hand followed – so, too, did a counter from Navarro. A left hand from Paro, and Navarro swinging wildly, concluded the third.
If Navarro started the fourth promisingly when he successfully doubled up, Paro responded with increased power. The American appeared to be finding his range at closer distance but still wasn’t consistently finding his opponent, who in turn was succeeding with his jab, and who also found another right hand when the already fading Navarro again sought to reduce the distance between them. A right hand to Navarro’s body and a left to his head also then followed, further increasing Paro’s confidence.
The ending, perhaps predictably, soon followed. Paro dropped Navarro with 20 seconds remaining of the fifth round. When Navarro returned to his feet, Paro immediately resumed his attack and threatened the finish until the bell followed, and Navarro’s corner then withdrew him, rightly recognising that he likely would have struggled to survive the sixth.
“I want another belt,” Paro said immediately afterwards. “Two time champion has a ring to it.”
No Limit’s George Rose had, in the build-up to Wednesday’s contest, spoken of Teofimo Lopez, Ryan Garcia and Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz as potential opponents, but Paro may not have the profile to tempt Lopez or Garcia into the ring. Paro will also have to decide which promoter he wants to work with, following the expiration of his agreement with No Limit.