Unbeaten Liam Paro becomes Chinese checker in title chase
Liam Paro, Australia’s No. 2 contender for the World Boxing Organization light-welterweight title, will be ringside in China to watch champion Jose Ramirez defend the belt against Ukrainian sharpshooter Viktor Postol.
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Brisbane’s Liam Paro is ramping up his preparations for a shot at the world light-welterweight title and will be ringside when champion Jose Ramirez defends his belt in China.
Paro, the No. 2 contender for the American’s World Boxing Organization title, will be ringside with his promoter Angelo Di Carlo in Haikou on February 2 to watch Ramirez fight Ukrainian sharpshooter Viktor Postol. Ramirez also holds the World Boxing Council title.
The unbeaten Ramirez became champion after fellow American Terence Crawford moved up in weight to win the WBO welterweight title from Brisbane’s Jeff Horn in Las Vegas in 2018.
Crawford had outpointed Postol over 12 rounds in 2016.
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Southpaw Paro, 23, is unbeaten in 18 fights and coming off a brutal 10-round decision against rugged Korean Hwang Kil Kim at Brisbane’s Eatons Hill Hotel in November.
Mackay-born Paro dedicates every victory to his childhood mate Regan Grieve, a brilliant Cowboys rugby league prospect who his own life on Australia Day 2015 aged just 18.
Paro is in the prime position to fight Ramirez after the Postol fight.
However, rumours are circulating that Ramirez will follow Crawford’s path and move to the welterweight division leaving Paro and Englishman Jack Catterall to fight for the vacant championship.
Di Carlo says either way Paro is a great chance to become world champ in 2020.
“Liam has been progressing really well with my son Alfie training him,’’ Di Carlo said.
“Every fight has been a learning experience for him against different styles. Two fights ago he beat a very talented Turkish Olympian named Fatih Keles and in his last fight he had to tough it out against a Korean who fought in a brawling, bruising style that reminded me of Jeff Fenech.
“When Liam gets his world title shot he’ll be ready to bring the belt back to Queensland.
“We’re going to China to push our case to be in one corner for the next light-welterweight world title fight.’’
In his next bout, at the Star Casino on the Gold Coast on March 7, Paro faces unbeaten German-based Romanian James Chereji.
Like Paro, Chereji, 25, has held a world youth championship. He has not lost in six years and 17 starts as a professional.
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