Liam Paro faces tough Korean who is all heart and Seoul

Unbeaten in 17 pro fights, world No. 2 light-welterweight Liam Paro has been going toe to toe with former world champ Billy Dib and rising star Dylan Emery ahead of his big battle with Korea’s Hwang Kil Kim in Brisbane.

LIAM Paro, Queensland’s world No.2 light-welterweight, has been travelling Australia for the last few weeks, punching some of the toughest boxers in the country in readiness for his anticipated war with Korean Hwang Kil Kim at Brisbane’s Eatons Hill Hotel.

Paro, unbeaten in 17 pro fights, has been preparing for a relentless and savage attack from the Seoul slugger on Friday night.

The Coorparoo southpaw has been going toe to toe with former world champ Billy Dib in Sydney, rising star Dylan Emery in Melbourne and with his teammate, former combat soldier Justin Frost in Brisbane.

World No. 2 Liam Paro with coach Alfie Di Carlo at the Coorparoo Boxing Gym, Brisbane. Picture: Josh Woning

Hwang, who has 11 wins from 12 pro fights, won the WBA Asian lightweight title in Seoul earlier this year, and has a reputation for all-out aggression.

Paro’s great friend and fellow Mackay product, Tysinn Best, the Australian welterweight champ, was sensationally stopped in the opening round by Korean In Duk Seo at Broadbeach in June, and Paro’s trainer Alfie Di Carlo has left no stone unturned to prepare Paro for an early blitz tonight.

``Hwang is big and strong and he will be looking to end the fight early,’’ Di Carlo said.

``But we’ve been sparring tough guys around the country – top established pros and a bunch of young, hungry kids who have been super aggressive against Liam.

Liam Paro punches Turkish Olympian Fatih Keles at The Star on the Gold Coast in June. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

``Hwang is the kind of guy who would like this fight in a phone booth so Liam has been concentrating a lot on speed and movement. His style is to bring guys onto his counterpunches and we’re hoping the Korean’s aggressive style will play into Liam’s hands.’’

Also on Friday night, Justin Frost, who served tours of duty with the Australian army in East Timor and Afghanistan, faces undefeated Tasmanian Olympian Jackson Woods for the Australian light-welterweight title, a championship once held by the likes of Aussie greats Barry Michael, Lester Ellis and Jeff Malcolm.

World No. 15 lightweight Jacob Ng faces Thailand’s Krai Setthaphon.