Time for Turk is over as Paro poised for world title shot

Slick World No. 3 Liam Paro says his southpaw skills can overcome the great experience of Turkish Olympian Fatih Keles as the Aussie sets his sights on the WBO super-lightweight title.

Liam Paro. Picture: Daniel McKenzie

Brisbane’s brilliant Liam Paro will be backing his speed and slick southpaw skills against the weight of experience when he battles Turkish Olympian Fatih Keles at the Gold Coast’s Star Casino on Saturday night in one of Queensland’s best ever local fight cards.

The bout is effectively a world title eliminator with the winner in the box seat to fight American Maurice Hooker for the WBO super-lightweight (63kg) title.

The 23-year-old Paro is unbeaten in 16 pro fights and has won both the Australian championship and the world youth title. He is the No. 3 contender for Hooker’s crown.

In 29-year-old Keles, Paro faces a veteran of 415 amateur fights who was a London Olympian, and is a European professional champion. Keles is the world No. 12 and Paro has a plan to stop him climbing higher this weekend.

Liam Paro lands a jab during his win over Italy's Massimiliano Ballisai. Picture: Clive Franklin

“Keles is a very good fighter with a lot of experience,’’ Paro said, “but I know I have the skills to outbox him.

“He’s very aggressive but my coach Alfie Di Carlo and I have been working really hard on counter-punching all night and I’ve had great sparring going into the fight.’’

Keles, who arrived in Brisbane on Sunday, began training for the bout in his native Turkey and finished preparations at the ECB Gym in Hamburg, Germany, where he is based.

He says Paro “is a little young’’ to be facing him and that his huge international amateur background gives him a clear advantage over the Mackay-born southpaw.

The Turk’s coach Bulent Baser says even though Paro is “a very good boxer’’ experience is key.

“Fatih not only fought in the Olympics but also has won four European title fights as a professional,’’ he said.

Jacob Ng and Tysinn Best (right) will fight on the big Star Casino show. Picture: Jerad Williams

Paro famously helped Jeff Horn in his preparations to beat Manny Pacquiao two years ago.

His childhood mate from Mackay, Tysinn Best, will fight Korean champ In Duk Seo on Saturday night’s undercard.

Australian heavyweight champ Demsey McKean tackles American Curtis Harper, World Youth lightweight champ Jacob Ng battles Mexican Ricardo Lara and national cruiserweight champ Ben Kelleher fights American Patrick Ferguson.