Liam Paro taking inspiration from Tom Dearden and the Maroons in boxing ‘resurrection’
For Queensland, it was ‘out with the old and in with the new’ which delivered an Origin II upset - and Liam Paro is drawing inspiration from the Maroons for his own boxing resurrection.
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It’s Queensland against the world on Wednesday night, as Liam Paro says he’ll take inspiration from his mate Tom Dearden’s performance in the Maroons’ State of Origin boilover as he looks to defend his turf against America’s Jonathan Navarro.
A win against the 18-1 Navarro could propel the Mackay boxer right back into world title contention, while fellow Queenslander Liam Wilson is hoping for the same result when he fights Argentina’s Ayrton Giminez (22-1) at the Cairns Convention Centre.
A win for Paro on Wednesday could even see him edge towards a rematch with Richardson Hitchens, who beat the 29-year-old for the IBF super-lightweight belt last year.
Hitchens, who most recently dismantled George Kambosos in a one-sided showing in New York, would likely be a heavy favourite in any rematch with Paro, but ‘The Prodigy’ doesn’t need to look far for inspiration.
The Maroons were $3.15 underdogs for game two in Perth last week before Paro’s old schoolmate Dearden helped Queensland pull off a remarkable 26-24 victory.
“Coming into the end, it was a little too close for my liking – I’m glad they got it done, because I would’ve had the shits,” Paro told Code Sports two days before his showdown with Navarro in Cairns. “That’s true Queensland spirit.
“No one gave them a chance, and the Mackay boys all played well, and Tom Dearden - filling it at halfback for the first time - and look at him. He stepped up to the plate and he had a cracker.
“Daly Cherry-Evans - another Mackay boy - had a beautiful career, but honestly, I think it’s time for Dearden, the young, hungry lion to step up.
“I know a lot of those boys, and a lot of them are from Mackay – Reuben Cotter, Tommy Dearden – I went to school with them.
“It’s awesome to see them killing it. North Queensland produces a lot of good talent, man, and that game was a pearler.”
A former world champion, Paro has reached the highest highs in boxing, but is getting back in the ring for the first time since his split decision defeat to Hitchens in December.
Plenty of pundits have already written Paro off, but, like his beloved Maroons, he’s determined to climb back to the top of the mountain.
“This is the resurrection I guess you could say,” Paro said. “And to be able to do it on home soil is even more special.
“I belong at the top, and I know I’ll get back to the top, but this time I’ll do it on Australian ground.”
That mission means Paro is eyeing up anyone at super-lightweight who has a world title.
A win over Navarro would push Paro up the WBO rankings, but he admits a rematch with Hitchens would be sweet.
“I’ve said I want to avenge that loss and Hitchens said he sees me back as champion,” he said. “But, anyone with a belt makes sense.
“There’s talk of (WBO titleholder) Teofimo Lopez moving up to welterweight, and if I win on Wednesday, I’ll be in the top one or two there and I’ll be knocking on the door of another world title.”
The man standing in his way is no pushover though.
Nicknamed ‘Thunder’, Navarro turned pro 10 years ago and only suffered his first loss, via decision, last year.
The 28-year-old comes from a boxing family and travelled to Australia with his two young daughters, Darla and Tezza, and says he needs to win for his family.
“We’re very proud of our name and if I lose, I’m putting an L in the Navarro name,” he told Code Sports. “I can’t have that.
“I need to win a world title for the Navarros and for East LA.
“Not a lot of people have won world titles.
“That’s why I don’t look past Paro, because he did something not a lot of people can do. So, for me, he’s that world champion that I’ve been dreaming of fighting.
“Beating him will sky-rocket me up to the top.”
They didn’t realise it until recently, but Paro and Navarro had a close encounter at the Youth World Games more than a decade ago.
Paro was just a 17-year-old prodigy at the time, while Navarro traded his fight kit with the brother of a future heavyweight world title contender.
“I still have those trunks that I traded,” Navarro said. “I still have them now. I traded with Justis Huni’s brother (Lopeti).
“It’s pretty crazy, man, so to him, thank you, man, I’ve still got the trunks now.”
Meanwhile, rising star Callum Peters has a third new opponent for Wednesday’s card, with Cairns local Luca Lanigan stepping in on just three days’ notice.
Originally published as Liam Paro taking inspiration from Tom Dearden and the Maroons in boxing ‘resurrection’
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