Queensland native Liam Paro will take on Lewis Crocker for the IBF welterweight crown at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane on Wednesday, June 24. Promoters No Limit boxing secured the deal to bring the fight to Australia, marking nine years since the country last hosted a major title bout on home soil.
Reports indicate No Limit paid $1.125 million to outbid promoter Eddie Hearn's Matchroom and gain hosting rights for the world title contest. Crocker had originally hoped to host the fight in his home city of Belfast at Windsor Park, but saw his promoter outbid by Paro's team.
Paro was 21 when he saw Brisbane's own Jeff Horn defeat boxing icon Manny Pacquiao via unanimous decision at Pat Rafter Arena to claim the WBO and lineal welterweight titles. Now 30 years old, Paro has the opportunity to make more Australian boxing history in that very same arena.
Winning the title would allow Paro to emulate former Aussie boxing legend Jeff Fenech. Fenech became the first Australian boxer to claim world titles at two different weight classes, a feat Paro aims to repeat.
Promoter bidding and venue deal
Paro spoke about the opportunity to fight for the welterweight title in his hometown. "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."
Paro expressed a desire to establish his career at home rather than travelling overseas. "I want to be a star here in Australia and bring the biggest fights to Australia," Paro said. "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."
Paro's championship record
Paro previously won the IBF light-welterweight crown when he upset Subriel Matias in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rican was considered the boogeyman of the division at the time, but the Aussie superstar marched into his backyard and boxed his ears off to claim a unanimous decision.
His initial title reign was short-lived after he was defeated in his first title defence by Matias' countryman Richardson Hitchins. Paro has since stepped up a weight class and won his first two fights at welterweight to set up his clash with Crocker.
Paro remains confident ahead of his next world-title shot. "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."
Crocker's undefeated record
Crocker poses another daunting task for the Queenslander. The Belfast fighter stands in Paro's way with an undefeated record of 22 fights and 11 knockouts.
Crocker will arrive down under next month with a point to prove after coming through back-to-back controversial clashes with Paddy Donovan. No Limit boss Matt Rose noted that Crocker has huge power in his left hand, calling him a seriously dangerous opponent while describing Paro as one of the smartest fighters in the world today.
Impact on Australian boxing
Speaking of the opportunity for Brisbane to host a fight of this magnitude, Rose called the bout a massive moment for the sport. "This is massive for Australia boxing," 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."
Rose added that the event represents a major achievement for the local boxing scene. "If he wins this fight, he will become only our second two-division world champion and the first since Jeff Fenech," Rose said. "This is a huge coup for Australian boxing."