Liam Paro aiming to fulfil promise to his best mate in IBF super-lightweight world title fight
Regan Grieve’s death hit boxer Liam Paro and the rugby league community hard. Now Paro has a chance to fulfil the promise he made to his best mate. TRIGGER WARNING: This story discusses suicide.
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When he steps into the ring at the Coliseo Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu in Puerto Rico this weekend, take a look at the tattoo on the ribs on the right side of Liam Paro’s body.
In large script are the letters ‘RG’, with the words ‘Conquer the World’ underneath it, followed by two years: 96-15.
‘Conquer the World’ is the boyhood motto Paro and his best mate ‘RG’ – Regan Grieve – told themselves as they plotted domination in their respective sports of boxing and rugby league.
And ’15 is the year when their adolescent dream became a solemn promise from Paro to his fallen mate.
This weekend against IBF super-lightweight world champion Subriel Matias, Paro, now 28, can make that promise come true.
Growing up
Regan Grieve was a powerful second-rower.
He represented Queensland at under-16s level and captained the Anthony Seibold-coached under-18s Maroons team, which featured Coen Hess and Jake Turpin, in 2014.
A natural leader, Regan was signed to the North Queensland Cowboys, playing for the side’s under-20s team.
While he seemed destined to make it in the NRL, he was also a bright student who wanted to become a dentist.
Paro was a playmaker and hooker, but by his teenage years had caught the boxing bug.
In their mid-teens, they both moved from Mackay to Townsville in pursuit of their sporting goals, and their tandem plan of conquering the world was, seemingly, well on track.
But few people knew of Regan’s mental health battles.
On Australia Day in 2015, months after injury ruled him out of an Australian footy tour to Europe, and just days before his 19th birthday, Regan lost that battle.
His death hit Paro and the rugby league community hard.
In another reality, Paro would have been watching Regan running out for Queensland during last week’s State of Origin opener in Sydney, while preparing for his world title fight 11 days later.
Instead, having carried his coffin at his funeral, he’ll carry his best mate’s legacy into the ring with him, written in ink on his skin and emblazoned in big lettering on his fight shorts.
“He was always gonna make it in the NRL, and I just carry his initials and his name with me,” Paro tells this masthead from his training base in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“I’ve always said he’ll never be forgotten and I’m doing that.
“I hope I’m making him proud.”
The Promise
Devastated after losing his mate, Paro was eventually able to find some sort of inspiration in Regan’s memory, and turned their ‘Conquer the World’ motto into a promise to his mate.
“It’s hard, but I’ve used that grieving as motivation, and tried to turn it into something, as bad as the situation is,” he said. “There are those days where I don’t wanna get out of bed.
“There are days when I have to dig extra deep. It’s just added that fire to me.
“God willing I get the job done. It’s gonna be very emotional.
“I’ve always said all we have in this world is our word, and to be a man of my word for something so big like that … to fulfil this promise would mean the world to me.”
Eye opener
Injury was one of several factors that contributed to Regan’s suicide.
And Paro, who nearly saw his own world title ambitions ruined by a series of injuries over the past 18 months, has now had a small glimpse into what his friend went through.
“You get a vivid look into the mindset, you know?” he says, after admitting he nearly sought work in the mines during his injury lay-off.
“Being injured, being taken away from your dream, it’s a scary and dark place, and it’s the uncertainty that gets you.
“You’re not ready to give up on what you love, on your passions, so it was a little look into the headspace that you could get into, and it was very scary.”
Underdog
Paro is a big underdog against the best 140-pound fighter on the planet.
All 20 of Matias’ wins have come by stoppage, and he avenged the only loss on his record with a devastating knockout.
“Matias is a tremendous champion, and his record speaks for itself,” Paro says. “You can’t take anything away from him, but we believe we’ve got the tools to get the job done and shock the world.
“Fighters fight, and I’m proving that by fighting a guy that I believe is the most avoided in boxing, and going to his hometown to do so.”
Like many boxers, Paro uses “we” when talking about his up-coming world title fight.
“We” includes his family, his longtime coach, Alfie di Carlo, and his Aussie training partners who have helped him prepare in Florida.
And you can bet RG is included too.
“We’re, a hundred per cent ready, I think it’s my time to be world champion,” Paro says. “The book writes itself.
“I’m truly confident I can make it happen. You dream about these moments as kids, and to be living it, to be so close to making it a reality … all I can say is I’m ready.
“I’m ready for it all.”
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